Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis Archives

UK variation of COVID-19 not detected in Missouri – yet

January 21, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

A highly contagious version of COVID-19 has made its way to the United States from the UK. During a Capitol press conference Wednesday, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams says the state is keeping a close eye on the variation.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on August 5, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

“We have not identified a case of the UK variant yet in Missouri,” says Williams. “It is in the Midwest. It’s in Illinois. It’s been in Indiana. Certainly, have seen that around the country. So, we are watching that very vigilantly. We get tests back and so far we’ve been blessed that they have come back negative. But that could certainly be a factor.”

The variation, known as B.1.1.7., has an unusually large number of mutations. The CDC says there is no evidence at this time to show that UK version of the virus causes more severe illness or increased risk of death.

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, an infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis, says there have been other strains of the virus but they have not had a significant impact like this one.

“All that we are seeing right now is higher clusters of people, particularly in the United Kingdom and in South Africa,” she says.

Hlatshwayo Davis says the higher rates of transmission are another reason taking health precautions is necessary, such as wearing a mask, proper handwashing, social distancing, and getting vaccinated.

She says Pfizer and Moderna, who have researchers testing B.1.1.7. against the vaccine, think the drugs currently being used will be effective against the UK version of the virus.

If you have had COVID-19, should you still wear a mask and get vaccinated?

January 5, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

If you have already had COVID-19, health experts still advise people to wear a mask and get the vaccine. Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, an infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis, tells Missourinet there is a period of time after your symptoms subside that you could still infect others.

If you have had COVID-19, should you still wear a mask and get vaccinated?

“There is no way for you to know exactly where you are in that period,” she says. “Even after they are past that period, they need to wear masks to protect others as well as themselves.”

Hlatshwayo Davis says wearing masks, getting the vaccine, social distancing and proper hand washing are the most effective ways to protect you and others.

“We know that there is going to be some level of immunity, but at this point, we don’t know how long that lasts for. So certainly months out, you don’t know if you still have a level of immunity to covid,” she says.

The CDC is recommending those infected with the coronavirus to wait 90 days from the time they had COVID-19 before getting vaccinated.

“We do not know exactly how natural immunity that is in place may interact with the vaccine. We’re still early in this in trying to figure out exactly what’s going on,” Hlatshwayo Davis says.

A new strain of COVID-19 has made its way to the United States. Hlatshwayo Davis says there have been other strains of the virus but they have not had a significant impact like this latest one.

“What is worrisome about this new strain is that it has multiple mutations and there is data to show that it may transmit COVID at higher rates than we have seen previously,” she says. “There is nothing that has shown that this has either different symptoms or is a more severe presentation of COVID. All that we are seeing right now is higher clusters of people, particularly in the United Kingdom and in South Africa.”

She says Pfizer and Moderna, who have researchers testing the new strain against the vaccine, think the drugs currently being used will be effective against the new strain.