China’s Delta variant outbreak in Fujian surges as Covid-19 cases hit 165 in a week - South Morning China Post
From WebMD [1]:
Q: The Mu variant was first identified in Columbia in January, so it's been around for 8 or 9 months. Any idea why is it getting more attention now?
A: Like with any new variant, once you see it identified or spreading around parts of the country, it's something to take notice of. One is seeing Mu, not in any high numbers or high percentages, but we are detecting it in different places throughout the United States. That makes it of interest.
Q: According to the CDC website that tracks the proportion of variants in the United States, Delta still dominates, while the Mu variant accounts for only about 0.1% of cases. Any variant can become a variant of concern, but why do you think Mu is getting attention at the moment?
A: What is most likely driving the increased interest is the idea that we are looking at mutations associated with variants that we already know about, like Delta. It looks like Mu has mutations already in Delta but it also has mutations from Alpha or B.1.1.7, which was also known to be highly transmissible. There's this idea that if you take a mutation from one variant and combine it with a mutation from another, you get a ‘super mutant virus’ that is going to wreak havoc. When in fact that is not necessarily the case. I would say at this point – wisely so – it's a variant of interest.
Q: On the other hand Mu has been identified in over 40 countries and 49 states – every one except Nebraska. Does that say something about transmissibility?
A1: That would depend. But these variants can arise via two different pathways. One is a single source of a new variant that gets transmitted globally – and it can be traced to a single, emergent event. In my view that is very unlikely.
The other scenario is 'convergence evolution,' when the variant emerges in multiple, separate instances. They perhaps provide some fitness to the virus. There can be multiple pathways through which a virus can arrive at this combination of mutations, which is probably more likely.
Also, if it does have an enhanced rate of transmission, we would expect to see a higher proportion of cases relative to the Delta variant.
A2: I would say at this time it's way too early. We really need to focus now on getting over this fourth wave of COVID, which is really Delta-driven. It will be important, as this slows down or this wave comes to an end, to see which variant will show up next.
Perhaps now that the population is more immune to that [Delta] virus, then another variant may come up. Our population is ever changing, with different proportions of people vaccinated in a city, state or the country. Again, the population immunity changes over time. That immune pressure helps to select a variant for that particular area.
Q: Is there any reliable information on Mu's potential to evade vaccines?
A: Mu has the E484K and the K417N mutations identified in the Beta variants. The Beta variant is currently more immune-resistant than even the Delta variant. So it's definitely a valid hypothesis, and we're still waiting on more data to confirm.
A preprint study (not yet peer-reviewed) came out Sept. 7, and indeed demonstrates that Mu is slightly more vaccine resistant than the Beta variant.
When we talk about vaccine escape, we have to be very careful to specify this is escape from infection, not from serious disease. Even against the most vaccine resistant variant out there, the vaccines still protect against disease.
Q: Since Mu has mutations from both the Delta and Beta variants – is that a reason for concern?
A: This raises the question of whether this variant is going to be more resistant to antibodies generated by the vaccine. That was always a major concern for the Beta lineage. But for whatever reason, it did not seem to be as fit as the Delta variant in the U.S. and worldwide. Delta replaced everything. It goes to show you that, at a particular time and at a particular place, there is a variant that seems to be a better fit [that is able to become dominant] because it is the perfect variant at the perfect time.
Is the Mu variant going to be like that, and the answer is we don't know. So we need to keep track of it and look for the early signs of what will be the next wave when it comes.
From WebMD [2]:
Q: Are There Any Benefits of Wearing Masks in School?
A: Yes. According to experts, children and adolescents can spread SARS-CoV-2 virus to others, including parents, grandparents, and teachers, even if they don’t have symptoms or have a mild reaction. Wearing a well-fitting face mask that covers both your nose and mouth indoors can reduce coronavirus infection rate to less than 1% if everyone is wearing a mask.
Q: Can They Make It Harder to Breathe in Oxygen?
A: No. While some parents are concerned that wearing masks for long hours could cause low blood oxygen levels, there’s no need to worry. Masks are made from materials that are designed to allow a healthy flow of oxygen as your child breathes. It doesn’t affect their ability to focus either.
Q: Are There Health Risks for Children Wearing Masks?
A: No. Children can safely wear masks all day. There’s a myth that wearing masks for long hours could mean breathing in too much carbon dioxide (CO2), which could lead to hypercapnia -- CO2 poisoning. However, if your child is 2 years old or younger, experts note that it’s best for them not to wear masks as they can’t remove it if they need to or ask for help. Children with severe breathing issues or cognitive issues may find it hard to wear masks for long periods of time. They may need to take extra precautions to socially distance themselves in order to protect themselves from the virus.
Q: Can Masks Interfere With Children’s Lung Development?
A: No. Wearing a mask for long periods of time at school won’t affect your growing child’s lung development. In fact, the mask allows oxygen to properly flow in and around it while protecting your child from coming in contact with spit, coughs, sneezes, or other airborne particles that could carry the COVID-19 virus. Preventing or limiting the spread of COVID-19 with masks is one way to make sure your child’s lungs stay healthy.
Q: Do Masks Interfere With Development of a Healthy Immune System?
A: Not at all. Wearing masks won’t compromise your child’s immunity or increase their risk of catching COVID-19 or other infections. In fact, because face masks cover your nose and mouth, they stop your child from constantly touching their face.
Q: Can Face Masks Delay Speech and Language Skills?
A: There’s no evidence to show that face masks negatively impact speech and language learning skills in children. In fact, when wearing masks, experts note that children learn to pay close attention to gestures, changes in tone of voice, emotions through eye movement, and words to develop the same speech and language skills.
Q: What About Kids With Certain Health Conditions?
A: Depending on your child’s specific health needs, the decision to wear a face mask should be something you as the parent or guardian should decide along with the professional advice from your child’s doctor.
Q: Is There Psychological Damage to Kids From Wearing Masks?
A: No. According to experts, there’s no evidence that face masks have a negative impact on your child’s mental and psychological well-being. Moreover, no studies show that wearing face masks can lead to depression or anxiety among kids.
FDA Warns: Don’t Get Under-12 Children Vaccinated Yet
From WebMD [3]:
- FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, MD, and Peter Marks, MD, of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Research and Evaluation said they hoped a vaccine for younger children would be authorized in coming months, but they didn’t say when that might happen.
- Different age groups may need different doses of vaccine, they said. The vaccines for children under 12 being studied in clinical trials may not be the same as those authorized for older children, they said.
- While children generally don’t get as sick with COVID-19 as other age groups, a growing number of children are being hospitalized because of the Delta variant, especially in states with low vaccination rates.
- In May, the government authorized Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for children 12-15. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for 18 and up. Clinical trials for younger age groups are now under way.
Coronavirus digest: Southeast China cases soar amid delta outbreak
From DW News [4]:
- China is racing to control new local COVID-19 infections which have more than doubled in its southeastern province of Fujian.
- The Australian Capital Territory, home to Canberra, will remain in lockdown for another four weeks. The ACT first went into lockdown for a seven-day period last month after it recorded its first COVID-19 case in the community since July 2020.
- New South Wales and Victoria saw new infections slightly ease on Tuesday, but officials said they would need to see a steady drop in daily cases before concluding that the infections had peaked.
- In Russia, President Vladimir Putin is self-isolating after coronavirus cases emerged in his inner circle. He has cancelled plans to appear in person at a regional summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan later in the week.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce a strategy for giving vulnerable groups and the elderly a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- South Africa's president has announced the easing of some restrictions and urged citizens to get vaccinated. Less than 20% of South Africans are fully vaccinated as the authorities urge a boost in vaccine take-up.
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has threatened to fine cities and counties that would mandate employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Global daily statistics - Reuters World Coronavirus Tracker And Maps
[1]
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210909/mu-covid-variant-qa
[2]
https://www.webmd.com/lung/children-masks#1
[3]
https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covi...rns-dont-get-under-12-children-vaccinated-yet
[4]
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-digest-southeast-china-cases-soar-amid-delta-outbreak/a-59173130
