LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: B.1.1.7

  • After plateau, COVID-19 trickles upward in Ohio

    After plateau, COVID-19 trickles upward in Ohio

    By Jake Zuckerman and Ohio Capital Journal

    Despite an accelerating vaccination effort, COVID-19 is on an upswing in Ohio.

    There are currently 1,140 Ohioans in the hospital with COVID-19, compared to 839 on March 21.

    Similarly, in mid-March, about 1,400 Ohioans were contracting COVID-19 per day on average. By the end of the month, the figure hit 1,700, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.

    The seven-day average test positivity rate — portion of diagnostic tests on a given day with positive results — reached 4.3% Tuesday compared to 3% in early March.

    None of these indicators are anywhere near their winter peaks. However, their ticking upward comes despite efforts to slow the coronavirus’ spread through three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use.

    About 3.77 million Ohioans are vaccine-started as of Tuesday, according to ODH data. Roughly 2.2 million of them are fully immunized.

    Variants of the new coronavirus that first emerged in late 2019 are likely fueling the spread.

    All three ‘variants of concern’ monitored by the CDC (B.1.1.7; B.1.351; and P.1) have now been detected in Ohio, according to agency data. Two of the variants are about 50% more transmissible than the original strain, according to the CDC.

    Since March 2020, nearly 19,000 Ohioans have died from COVID-19. More than 1 million have been infected.

  • Coronavirus cases in Ohio, neighboring states might be inching back up

    Coronavirus cases in Ohio, neighboring states might be inching back up

    By Marty Schladen and Ohio Capital Journal

    After a disastrous January, coronavirus cases in Ohio steadily marched downward. Then in recent weeks, they hit a plateau. Now, even as greater numbers of Ohioans get vaccinated, case numbers might be inching back up.

    Ohio might be part of a disturbing national trend.

    The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center published a set of graphs titled, “America is reopening. But have we flattened the curve?” They map shows trends for each state and color codes them — red for states with increasing case numbers and blue for states where numbers are dropping. How deeply shaded they are indicates how quickly cases are dropping or falling in a state.

    The red in Ohio’s graph is so light that it barely amounts to a blush. More disturbing, is that every neighboring state but one is a deeper shade. Kentucky is a very light shade of blue.

    The trend extends across the country. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week said that the seven-day average of coronavirus cases nationally was up 7% over a week earlier.

    That prompted CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Monday to say she felt a sense of “impending doom.” 

    “Now is one of those times when I have to share the truth and I have to hope and trust you will listen,” Walensky said, according to the Charlotte Observer. “Right now I’m scared.” 

    Those comments prompted President Joe Biden to call on governors in states that had ended their mask mandates to reinstate them.

    “People are letting up on precautions, which is a very bad thing,” Biden said, according to the New York Times.  “We are giving up hard-fought, hard-won gains.”

    The recent rise in cases is probably driven by several factors.

    States like Texas have lifted mask mandates and indoor capacity limits. Not only does that take away tools to limit the spread of the virus, it could send a message that the pandemic is over and precautions are no longer needed.

    Ohio’s mask and other orders remain in place. And Gov. Mike DeWine rarely misses an opportunity to urge the public to take precautions against the virus.

    But as the weather is warming and vaccines are becoming increasingly available, people might be letting their guard down. For example, about half the clientele was unmasked on Saturday at a crowded Columbus convenience store near the softball fields at Lou Berliner Park.

    Also, several new variants of the virus are spreading more rapidly than their predecessors. As they crowd out earlier versions of the virus, the spread — and mutations into even more dangerous variants — could accelerate further, experts have said.

    The CDC on Sunday said that the number of cases of the “UK variant” — B.1.1.7 — had jumped 115% in Ohio over a week earlier, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

    Also potentially hampering Ohio’s fight to squelch the disease is that the state will soon have plenty of vaccine, but millions of unvaccinated Ohioans.

    Such “vaccine reluctance” stems from several sources. 

    Some members of minority groups might distrust the health system after a history of abuse or neglect, meanwhile racial inequities in health care access still impede care. Some people have bought into the myth that vaccines cause autism. Still others might not be able to conveniently find one.

    There is also a political dimension. 

    After a year of former President Donald Trump making false statements about the coronavirus, an NPR-PBS-Marist poll conducted earlier this month found that almost half of Republican men said they had no intention of getting vaccinated.

    While other former presidents came together earlier this month to boost the vaccine effort, Trump skipped the event. Trump and his wife, Melania, quietly were vaccinated before they left the White House in January.

    It appears that many Ohioans are skipping the shot for one reason or another.

    Cohorts of older Ohioans who have been eligible for the vaccine for more than a month appear to show the trend. They approach about 70% getting at least a first dose and then the increase slows to a crawl.

    The most vaccinated group of Ohioans by age is now those 70-74, of whom 72% have received at least a first dose.

  • Breaking News w/video discussion: COVID variant detected in Hamilton County

    Breaking News w/video discussion: COVID variant detected in Hamilton County

    Commonly known as the UK variant

    Loveland, Ohio –Hamilton County Public Health has been informed that surveillance discovered a COVID-19 variant in Hamilton County.  Officially labeled as B.1.1.7 lineage, the variant is commonly known as the UK variant.  Hamilton County is one of at least 11 Ohio counties known to have a variant detected.

    HCPH has completed contact tracing on the patient, who has resolved symptoms and cleared the standard isolation period.  The variant was detected during routine surveillance of tests submitted to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).  The actual test took place on January 30.

    According to the CDC:

    • This variant is estimated to have first emerged in the UK during September 2020.
    • Since December 20, 2020, several countries have reported cases of the B.1.1.7 lineage, including the United States.
    • This variant is associated with increased transmissibility (i.e., more efficient and rapid transmission).
    • In January 2021, scientists from UK reported evidence that suggests the B.1.1.7 variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared with other variants.
    • Early reports found no evidence to suggest that the variant has any impact on the severity of disease or vaccine efficacy.

    “We’ve known about these variants for some time,” says Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman.  “From a prevention standpoint, the response remains the same:  wear a mask; maintain at least six feet of physical distance; wash hands often; and stay home when you are ill.  Also, consider taking vaccine when you are eligible.”  

    Here is a discussion of the variant, its prevention, and treatment with Hamilton County Public Health Medical Director Dr. Stephen Feagins.