How do the new variants of COVID-19 impact the likelihood of getting infected? After we get vaccinated, will we need a booster later this year? Do we need to double mask? Those are the questions we pursue with Dr. Erin Bromage, Associate Professor of Biology at UMass Dartmouth.
COVID testing has now included detecting whether virus variants from the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa are more prevalent in positive cases in the United States. Dr. Bromage states the discovery of a variant does not necessarily mean becoming infected will lead to any severe negative impacts.
Dr. Bromage says thus far, the COVID vaccine appears to protect against the new variants of the virus. He cautions that as COVID-19 continues to evolve, the possibility exists of the need to receive future vaccinations to remain safe.
As we entered the new year, a surge in COVID cases, combined with the arrival of new variants, brought out a call for the use of double masks while out in public. Dr. Bromage says wearing two masks can help in the spread of the virus, but the quality of the mask is more important.
So what is the best plan of attack for masking-up?
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