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How many Covid-19 variants are there? Honestly, this is confusing as we just keep discovering new and deadlier ones.
If you could remember, Covid-9 started in Wuhan (China) in December 2019 and it has spread across borders infecting millions of people worldwide. It is a major threat to health causing fever, cough, lung inflammation, renal failure and headache to name a few.
Just recently, new cases of the covid-19 variants started spreading around. These new variants are highly transmissible and deadlier than before. The rates of hospitalization and deaths have increased over the course of new variants emerging.
Covid-19 Variants
B117 or Alpha Variant
This variant was first discovered in September 2020 in Greater London, England. This discovery led to tight restrictions in England again as the lockdown started easing. B117 variant is reported to be 70% transmissible according to European Center For Disease Prevention and Control. Meaning more hospitalization and greater strain to healthcare systems.
Although scientists are not quite sure how this variant emerged but since viruses mutate regularly, it was suggested to be originated in an immuno-compromised person according to Dr Jason Kindrachuk, a Canadian Chair in Molecular Pathogenesis of Emerging and Re-Emerging Viruses.
Cases of Alpha variant were reported in Canada especially in areas such as Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec. The good news is that vaccines are Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 93% effective against this variant.
501Y.V2 or Beta Variant
This variant is very popular in South Africa and has been presented with higher viral loads than other variants. This particular variant is worrisome because the strain may be resistant to vaccines. There are currently no reports of this variant in the US or Canada yet but there are worries about vaccine-resistant strains.
P.1 or Gamma Variant
This variant was first discovered in Alagoas Brazil on January 12, 2021. It is highly transmissible and caused more losses to the Brazilian citizens. Low adherence to social distancing, poor hygiene and low prevention measures caused this variant to be deadlier than it should be.
B.1.617.2 or Delta Variant
This variant was first detected in India during a ferocious wave around April and May 2021. It is 60% transmissible and has shown partial resistance to vaccines particularly in people who received a single dose. This variant has now been detected in over 90 countries since its discovery.
Delta variant has spread rapidly across borders and was first reported in the UK in mid-April when the nation was starting to open up. The rise in Delta variants caused the UK government to extend lockdown.
A press release from the Public Health England published on the 22nd of May, 2021 showed that a single dose of either Pfizer or Astrazeneca’s vaccine were 33% more likely to reduce symptoms caused by Delta Variant compared to 50% seen in the Alpha variant.
The second dose AstraZeneca increased protection by 60% against Delta compared to 66% as seen in the Alpha variant. While Pfizer vaccine boosted protection by 88% against Delta compared to 93% protection as seen in Alpha Variant.
Omicron Variant
This is the most recently discovered variant that was first detected in Botswana earlier in November 2021. However, it was reported in South African where the World Health Organization named it “A Variant of Concern”.
Scientists from South African have been investigating this Omicron variant which seems like good news. The good news is that they are not seeing high rates of hospital admissions as suspected. Read more from the South African Medical Research Center.
What Does This Covid-19 Variant Mean For You?
This just means as an individual, we all need to take responsibility. Wear your mask when going out even if you have been fully vaccinated. As you know, getting vaccines does not mean you are fully protected. You could be carrying any of these covid-19 variants but because you are fully vaccinated, the symptoms might not manifest but you could infect others who are immunocompromised.
Therefore, whether you are fully vaccinated or not, always wear your face mask to protect others, practice good hygiene and continue with your vitamins to boost your immune systems.
Read more about all these variants from the CDC
Good post. Thank you for sharing this very useful information.
Thank you for reading 💜
Staying healthy and trying to boost my immune system is a really important thing now! These are some really useful tips, so thank you for posting!
I have been saying ALL of these things for a long time now so it’s nice to see someone else post about it! Health isn’t about taking one magic pill, it’s a lifestyle and you have clearly shown that here. Thank you!!
Yes changing our lifestyle is an important aspect in boosting the immune system. Thank you so much💜
This was a great post. I think we could all benefit from the things you listed in here. I have been taking my vitamins every day and I feel a lot better after doing so. So I guess I was sort on getting some of the things it is helping with. I’ve been drinking a lot more water and walking and dancing a lot to help with moving around.
I’m so happy you are taking vitamins, hydrating and doing other things for a healthy lifestyle. Thank you💜
Doing these. Thanks for the recap. Working on it.
I am so glad you are taking all these steps. It is so important 💜. Thank you
I need to focus more on these tips. I’m kind of slipping in every category.
It makes me happy that this post made you find out which aspect you need to work on. Thank you for reading and I hope this helps you make those changes 💜❤️
Great – and important – article! THanks for sharing – and caring!
Thank you for reading 💜
Yes! health is a lifestyle choice and good habits are not a fix! It is a bad time for humanity and we need to see sense..when this ends, our habits should change for the better too. Great post!
🙂
Great post! I’ve taking these precautions, so ready for all of this to be a thing of the past so life can go back to normal.
Boosting the immune system is so important right now. Thank you for sharing these tips!
This is such an important post with so many excellent suggestions. Even though we are stuck at home, we can still take this as an opportunity to exercise and look after ourselves. Thank you for the reminder to drink more water too! Great post, hope you are staying safe and well <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
This is such an important post in the current climate I think we could all use with boosting out immune system especially those who are stuck inside or more at risk! Thanks for sharing these tips x
So important to boost your immune system right now! Thanks for sharing these tips!
Absolutely important article. Thanks x
Being tired never helped anyone’s immune system! I have stayed up a little later then usual the past few nights, but I take Vitamin C, and have been out in my yard mulching hydrangea bushes and weeding. It is so cool and beautiful out as the grass turns green, it is hard to imagine what is happening out in the world.
These are all excellent tips for enhancing general health and boosting the immune system. I’m guilty of not getting enough sleep, but trying to work on that! I’m so glad you mentioned the benefits of Vitamin D on the immune system, and the importance of maintaining some physical activity. A walk in the sunshine is so helpful, physically and emotionally!
Excellent post and much needed
So many useful tips to fight against Corona Virus .. Thank you for sharing ..
It’s important to cough or sneeze into tissue paper and throw it away, or into the pit of the elbow, rather than your hands.
Your should also wash your hands as soon as you return home, if you’ve been outside, to make sure you don’t bring any of it inside, and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Yes coughing or sneezing into a tissue and discarding it is very important to avoid infecting vulnerable people with the virus 🦠. Thanks for your contribution
Who can think of sleep as a necessity? I barely sleep this days because of the virus scare. Now I will just sleep to be healthy. Thanks for sharing
I love your blog posts and this is such good advice. I already take vitamin d and am trying to eat well despite the supermarket shelves being empty! I’m struggling a bit with the isolation but at least we have the internet to communicate!! Xx
Sigh, supermarket shelves being empty is everywhere and it’s saddening. I hope you do find one that isn’t empty or order some groceries online. Thank you so much for reading and thanks for the compliments 💜
All of these are really important, you’re very knowledgeable! x
This is a great post for spreading awareness on how to keep yourself well (or at least try to). I think as well as trying to get enough sleep, trying to lower your stress levels is important too isn’t it? Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system!
Thanks for sharing!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Yes reducing stress level too is important, there is a lot of panic out there and social media, news isn’t making it any easier. So thank you for pointing that out 😊💜
Thanks for sharing all of these in this difficult times. Be safe out there!!!
Such a great post! It’s important that we all try to stay as healthy as possible at this time. I’m so glad you mentioned that there’s no specific vitamin to take to prevent/ cure it either. I’ve been seeing so much inaccurate information about that. I’m staying in, trying my best to get a little more sleep and making sure I’m on top of my hydration right now x
Sophie
Yeah so much misinformation out out there. I know we are trying make money but not at the expense of other people’s health. Thank you for reading. Continue to stay safe out there💜❤️
Good tips! I am now taking extra vitamin D because we spend so much time indoors and don’t get the needed amount from the sun like we would on a normal spring. Stay healthy xx
I have a rare form of a congenital heart and lung defect, I have heard I am very susceptible to the virus, these are great tips, thanks for sharing!
Your health is topmost priority 🙏🏽, thank you for practicing safety measures and staying healthy. I’m so glad you found this post helpful 💜
Great advice that we should all follow everyday, virus or not. Thank you for sharing.
The article is beautiful. Thank you.
These are some really helpful tips! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve been doing my best to do all of these except for Vitamin C. Great suggestion. Also, I love your line about social distancing not meaning social disconnection and how we should work to stay in contact with people.
These are some great ideas to help keep you healthy and safe during lockdown and isolation!
This is such a great post and includes very useful information | It is so important to keep your immune system up no matter the circumstances but more so right now! I hope more people come across this and take in the information provided! Thank you for a great post
Have a wonderful day and stay safe
Love
Em
https://thejumpseatjournals.com/2020/03/27/all-eyes-on-me-glossy-box/
Wow… thank you so much for your comment. 💜💜
You’re very welcome
Great post lovely, with some really useful tips. It’s always important to boost your immune system but definitely at this time! Stay safe and healthy xx
Thank you for sharing this.
A great reminder. Very useful information and well written post! Thank you! :))
I’m pleased to say I’m doing all of these right now!
Absolutely am doing each and every single thing here!
😀
Very helpful tips shared here. Sleep is especially important as well as social distancing. Thanks for sharing!
Very helpful post! I need to start drinking more water. Thank you for the reminder.
Very good post. We really need to boost the immune system, especially these days when we live in unprecedented danger.
Thanks so much for this…very useful tips
These are helpful tips. It is good to know that we can further reduce our risk of getting infected with COVID. I’ll try some of these like taking Vitamin C