© Harrison Jones, For the Evening Sun, Hanover Evening Sun via Imagn Content Services, LLC
(New York, NY) – No one wants a repeat of 2020. But with the new COVID-19 variant gaining attention, it’s a conversation worth having. Strain NB.1.8.1 was first detected in March, but cases have risen since May. As of now, fewer than 20 cases have been reported across the US, including two in New York.
Data suggests it could be more transmissible than previous variants. That said, experts stress that it does not currently pose a serious threat to those who are vaccinated, or had prior immunity.
Still, some health professionals are urging caution. Physicians in California have already called for the return of mask mandates in clinical settings as a preventive measure. Public health experts emphasize that masks remain a simple and effective tool for reducing the spread of airborne viruses.
