Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned that a new mutation of coronavirus could spread easily across America.
It comes as infections soar across eight states, with more than 55,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and 671 deaths, bringing the confirmed total to 2.74 million cases and 128,742 deaths.
A small change to a variant of the novel coronavirus has helped it better copy itself but not make it more deadly, a new study suggests.
Researchers found there were two strains of the virus circulating when it reached the US: the original D614 and a mutation, G614.
This mutation is not a deadlier version of the coronavirus but it does help the virus copy itself better, which results in a higher viral load in patients.
Senior health adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured) has warned that a new mutation of coronavirus could spread easily across America. This mutation is not a deadlier version of the coronavirus but it does help the virus copy itself better, which results in a higher viral load in patients
Researchers found the most dominant strain of the virus by mid-March was a mutation of the original variant called G614 (right, in blue), not the original virus D614 (left, in green)
Dr Erica Ollmann Saphire, a professor of at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology in California, says viruses often mutate to ‘escape’ antibodies created by our immune systems.
This phenomenon of viruses making enough changes to ‘drift’ away from the original virus is known as antigenic drift.
It’s one reason why new flu shots are needed every fall, because the dominant strain is often so different from the one the year before.
Health experts say coronavirus mutates at a slower rate than several other respiratory viruses, particularly the the flu.
The lab-based research, published in the journal Cell, suggests this current mutation is more transmissible between people in the real world compared to the previous iteration, but this hasn’t yet been proven.
‘I think the data is showing that there is a single mutation that actually makes the virus be able to replicate better, and maybe have high viral loads,’ Anthony Fauci, the United States’s top infectious disease specialist, who wasn’t involved in the research, commented to Journal of the American Medical Association.
‘We don’t have a connection to whether an individual does worse with this or not. It just seems that the virus replicates better and may be more transmissible, but this is still at the stage of trying to confirm that,’ he added.
‘But some very good viral phylogeneticists are working on that right now, and it does look like a particular mutation may make the virus more transmissible.’
For the study, the team tracked the spread of both the G and D viruses.
The G strain is not a deadlier version, but it allows the virus to copy itself more easily and create higher viral loads in patients. Pictured: Paula Johnson, a nurse, administers a deep suction tube into the lungs of a coronavirus patient, in the ICU of Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, April 22
They found that while both the D virus and the G virus spread widely around the world, the G strain was more dominant by mid-March.
Next, researchers analyzed at antibody samples from six San Diego residents who had previously been infected with COVID-19.
They wanted to see if which variant would be harder to neutralize.
Results showed the new G virus was just as well neutralized – and sometimes even better – as the original D virus.
This means the immune system doesn’t need to produce more or better-acting antibodies against the G virus, despite it being better at spreading.
‘These findings suggest that the newer form of the virus may be even more readily transmitted than the original form,’ said senior author Dr Bette Korber, a fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
‘Whether or not that conclusion is ultimately confirmed, it highlights the value of what were already good ideas: to wear masks and to maintain social distancing.’
Saphire says the virus ‘wants’ to be transmissible, which is why many get a mild cases, or have no symptoms at all.
‘A virus that kills its host rapidly doesn’t go as far–think of cases of Ebola,’ she said.
‘A virus that lets its host go about their business will disseminate better – like with the common cold.’
It comes as the US on Thursday broke a one-day record for new coronavirus cases with more than 53,000 infections in 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The staggering increase set a new daily case record for the second day in a row after the nation observed over 52,000 new cases on Wednesday.
According to the tracker, there were 53,069 new cases and 649 deaths over the 24 hours to Thursday evening.
As of Thursday evening the US’ total number of COVID-19 infections stood at 2,739,092 and the number of deaths at 128,742.
The US has seen a record 53,000 new COVID-19 cases within 24 hours on Thursday, smashing a record from the day prior, according to data from Johns Hopkins University
This chart shows how the number of daily coronavirus cases as skyrocketed in June
President Donald Trump tweeted late Thursday blaming the surge in coronavirus cases on expansive testing efforts
Florida: On Thursday eight states reported record highs in single-day cases, including Florida. But that didn’t stop hordes of people from hitting the sand in Miami Beach (above)
South Dakota: Crowds also gathered at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota ahead of Trump’s July 3 visit
Texas: Medical staff treat a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at the United Memorial Medical Center on Thursday in Houstin, Texas amid a spike in cases
It comes as eight states reported single-day case records on Thursday: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Montana, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Despite the spike in numbers, some states are still seeing packed beaches and outfoor festivities as the nation heads into the holiday Fourth of July weekend.
In Miami hordes of people were seen packed on beaches and enjoying the sun, despite looming concerns over the virus.
In South Dakota, crowds of people waving pro-Trump flags were seen at Mt. Rushmore National Monument, a day ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the site to celebrate Independence Day.
Eight states reported single-day case records on Thursday: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Montana, South Carolina and Tennessee
A woman sits with her child in Miami Beach, Florida on Thursday, as the state recorded more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases
A couple pictured at Miami Beach where swimmers are seen drinking on Thursday despite a rise in coronavirus cases in the state
Life’s a beach! People pictured enjoying the Miami heat and clear waters on Thursday
Florida now has over 169,000 cases and 3,600 deaths. Thursday is the 25th consecutive day that the state has set a record high in its seven-day rolling average
Groups were seen enjoying the sand and sun on Thursday at Miami Beach
Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed the surge in the Florida’s coronavirus cases on ‘social interactions’ among young people at parties, beaches, bars, and swimming pools and a ‘robust’ testing program
This beach goer wore a mask as she walked away from Miami Beach on Thursday, where hordes of people were seen lounging in the sand
A view of the bustling Miami Beach strip pictured above. On Thursday 10,109 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Florida, smashing its previous record
The celebration on Friday will include a fireworks display at the iconic monument, which features the stone carvings of US Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
On Thursday Texas Gov. Greg Abbott buckled down and issued a mandate for people in counties with 20 or more COVID-19 cases to wear face masks in public and banned gatherings of more than 10 people.
The announcement came a day after the Lone Star state reported 8,000 new COVID-19 cases. As of Thursday Texas reported 175,977 coronavirus cases and 2,525 deaths.
Preparing: Workers pictured setting up a stage and crowd space at Mt. Rushmore National Monument in anticipation of President Donald Trump’s visit to the site on Friday
Workers pictured preparing for Trump’s visit to the site on Thursday
Friday’s Independence Day celebration will include a fireworks display
Trump fans were seen posing for pictures at the bustling monument on Thursday
Florida is another state of worry as it now has over 169,000 cases and 3,600 deaths. Thursday is the 25th consecutive day that the state has set a record high in its seven-day rolling average.
But Gov. Ron DeSantis has cast blame on ‘social interactions’ among young people at parties, beaches, bars, and swimming pools, and also said the numbers are up due to a more ‘robust’ testing program.
Arizona is another worsening hotspot for the virus reporting 3,333 new COVID-19 cases and 37 new deaths on Thursday. Overall the state has recorded over 87,000 cases of the virus and over 1,700 deaths.
A doctor pictured communicating through an air tight curtain in the intensive care unit hrough an air tight curtain in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston on Thursday
As of Thursday Texas reported 175,977 coronavirus cases and 2,525 deaths
A COVID-19 patient pictured being transferred to another room at the coronavirus ICU at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas
A COVID-19 patient pictured speaking with a doctor at the United Memorial Medical Center on July 2, 2020 in Houston on Thursday
On Wednesday Vice President Mike Pence visited the state and promised to deploy hundreds of medical personnel to the state to aid in the crisis that has seen 86 percent of inpatient bends and 89 percent of ICU beds filled. Those patients include COVID-19 patients and those fighting other ailments.
Nationally, cases have passed 2,715,000 with more than 128,000 deaths as the US scrambles to control the spread of the virus.
