{"id":98446,"date":"2021-01-09T12:21:25","date_gmt":"2021-01-09T17:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=98446"},"modified":"2021-01-09T17:26:56","modified_gmt":"2021-01-09T22:26:56","slug":"nyt-front-page-the-world-stumbles-in-frantic-race-to-subdue-the-ever-changing-covid19-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=98446","title":{"rendered":"(NYT front page) The World Stumbles in Frantic Race to Subdue the Ever-Changing Covid19 virus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Britain has one of the most aggressive surveillance regimens, analyzing up to 10 percent of samples that test positive for the virus. But few countries have such robust systems in place. The United States sequences less than 1 percent<\/a> of its positive samples. And others cannot hope to afford the equipment or build such networks in time for this pandemic.<\/p>\n

In Brazil, labs that had redirected their attention from Zika to the coronavirus had discovered a worrisome mutation there as early as this spring. But little is known about the variants circulating in the country, or how quickly they are spreading.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just don\u2019t know because no one is either sequencing or sharing the data,\u201d said Dr. Nuno Faria <\/a>at Imperial College and Oxford University who coordinates genomic sequencing projects with colleagues in Brazil. \u201cGenomic surveillance is expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the virus continues to mutate, other significant variants will almost certainly emerge. And those that make the virus hardier, or more contagious, will be more likely to spread, Dr. Read said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe faster we can get the vaccines out, the faster we can get on top of these variants,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s no room for complacency here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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As the coronavirus mutates to become more contagious, scientists around the globe are pressing for a faster vaccine rollout and funding for genetic surveillance. https:\/\/t.co\/6ScCBUH52C<\/a><\/p>\n

— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 9, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n