Category: B.1.351
USA: Washington State Vaccine Breakthroughs by Variant up to 28th July 2021
This week’s update from Washington State showing vaccine breakthrough cases and which Sars-CoV-2 variant is causing them up to 28th July 2021. Of note this week is huge jump for Delta B.1.617.2 breakthrough cases, which have more than doubled in one week from 113 to 254. There are further increases in vaccine breakthroughs for other variants too.
Vaccine Breakthroughs up to 28th July 2021
| 28th July 2021 Variant | Lineage | Number of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Sequences From All Covid-19 Cases With Variant | Increase in Number of Breakthroughs From Previous Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | B.1.1.7 | 337 | 34% | 43% | 29 |
| Gamma | P.1 | 168 | 17% | 10% | 12 |
| Epsilon | B.1.429 | 116 | 12% | 15% | 3 |
| Delta | B.1.617.2 | 254 | 26% | 7% | 141 |
| Iota | B.1.526 | 26 | 3% | 3% | 4 |
| Beta | B.1.351 | 10 | 1% | 1% | 0 |
| Epsilon | B.1.427 | 11 | 1% | 2% | 0 |
| Eta | B.1.525 | 4 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Kappa | B.1.617.1 | 1 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Zeta | P.2 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Other | Other | 54 | 6% | 18% | 4 |
| Total | 981 | 100% | 100% | 193 |
Vaccine Breakthroughs up to 21st July 2021
| 21st July 2021 Variant | Lineage | Number of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Sequences From All Covid-19 Cases With Variant | Increase in Number of Breakthroughs From Previous Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | B.1.1.7 | 308 | 39% | 44% | -1 |
| Gamma | P.1 | 156 | 20% | 10% | 9 |
| Epsilon | B.1.429 | 113 | 14% | 16% | 0 |
| Delta | B.1.617.2 | 113 | 14% | 4% | 23 |
| Iota | B.1.526 | 22 | 3% | 3% | 0 |
| Beta | B.1.351 | 10 | 1% | 1% | -1 |
| Epsilon | B.1.427 | 11 | 1% | 2% | 0 |
| Eta | B.1.525 | 4 | 1% | 0% | 0 |
| Kappa | B.1.617.1 | 1 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Zeta | P.2 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Other | Other | 50 | 6% | 19% | 0 |
| Total | 788 | 100% | 100% | 30 |
Vaccine Breakthroughs up to 14th July 2021
| 14th July 2021 Variant | Lineage | Number of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Sequences From All Covid-19 Cases With Variant | Increase in Number of Breakthroughs From Previous Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | B.1.1.7 | 309 | 41% | 44% | 12 |
| Gamma | P.1 | 147 | 19% | 10% | 6 |
| Epsilon | B.1.429 | 113 | 15% | 16% | 0 |
| Delta | B.1.617.2 | 90 | 12% | 4% | 20 |
| Iota | B.1.526 | 22 | 3% | 3% | 1 |
| Beta | B.1.351 | 11 | 1% | 1% | 0 |
| Epsilon | B.1.427 | 11 | 1% | 2% | 0 |
| Eta | B.1.525 | 4 | 1% | 0% | 0 |
| Kappa | B.1.617.1 | 1 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Zeta | P.2 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Other | Other | 49 | 6% | 20% | 0 |
| Total | 757 | 100% | 100% | 39 |
USA: Washington State Vaccine Breakthroughs by Variant up to 21st July 2021
So what is Plan B if the vaccines fail with a new #coronavirus super-variant?
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
USA: Washington State Vaccine Breakthroughs by Variant up to 21st July 2021
This week’s update from Washington State showing vaccine breakthrough cases and which Sars-CoV-2 variant is causing them. Of note this week is another large jump for Delta B.1.617.2 breakthrough cases, and a further increase for Gamma P1 breakthroughs.
Vaccine Breakthroughs up to 21st July 2021
| 21st July 2021 Variant | Lineage | Number of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Sequences From All Covid-19 Cases With Variant | Increase in Number of Breakthroughs From Previous Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | B.1.1.7 | 308 | 39% | 44% | -1 |
| Gamma | P.1 | 156 | 20% | 10% | 9 |
| Epsilon | B.1.429 | 113 | 14% | 16% | 0 |
| Delta | B.1.617.2 | 113 | 14% | 4% | 23 |
| Iota | B.1.526 | 22 | 3% | 3% | 0 |
| Beta | B.1.351 | 10 | 1% | 1% | -1 |
| Epsilon | B.1.427 | 11 | 1% | 2% | 0 |
| Eta | B.1.525 | 4 | 1% | 0% | 0 |
| Kappa | B.1.617.1 | 1 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Zeta | P.2 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Other | Other | 50 | 6% | 19% | 0 |
| Total | 788 | 100% | 100% | 30 |
Vaccine Breakthroughs up to 14th July 2021
| 14th July 2021 Variant | Lineage | Number of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases With Variant | Percentage of Sequences From All Covid-19 Cases With Variant | Increase in Number of Breakthroughs From Previous Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | B.1.1.7 | 309 | 41% | 44% | 12 |
| Gamma | P.1 | 147 | 19% | 10% | 6 |
| Epsilon | B.1.429 | 113 | 15% | 16% | 0 |
| Delta | B.1.617.2 | 90 | 12% | 4% | 20 |
| Iota | B.1.526 | 22 | 3% | 3% | 1 |
| Beta | B.1.351 | 11 | 1% | 1% | 0 |
| Epsilon | B.1.427 | 11 | 1% | 2% | 0 |
| Eta | B.1.525 | 4 | 1% | 0% | 0 |
| Kappa | B.1.617.1 | 1 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Zeta | P.2 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| Other | Other | 49 | 6% | 20% | 0 |
| Total | 757 | 100% | 100% | 39 |
Belgium: 90-year-old woman coinfection with Alpha and Beta coronavirus variants
Researchers in Belgium report on the case of a 90-year-old woman who was simultaneously infected with two different variants of concern (VOCs) of COVID-19, in a Case Report being presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) held online this year.
On March 3 2021, the woman, whose medical history was unremarkable, was admitted to the OLV Hospital in the Belgian city of Aalst after a spate of falls. She tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day. She lived alone and received nursing care at home, and had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Initially, there were no signs of respiratory distress and the patient had good oxygen saturation. However, she developed rapidly worsening respiratory symptoms, and died five days later.
When the patient’s respiratory sample was tested for VOCs with PCR, they discovered that she had been infected by two different strains of the virus–one which originated in the UK, known as B.1.1.7 (Alpha), and another that was first detected in South Africa (B.1.351; Beta).
The presence of both strains was confirmed by PCR on a second respiratory sample, by sequencing of the S-gene and by whole genome sequencing.
USA: vaccine breakthough cases in Washington State by coronavirus variant to 30th June 2021
Washington State has recently published an update on the number of vaccine breakthrough cases. Importantly, it shows which Sars-CoV-2 variant is responsible for 661 of those cases through genome sequencing. This hugely important information is not available for most states in the USA, so the fact that Washington State continues to publish this information for the Covid variants currently circulating in that state makes it all the more valuable. Spoiler alert: Delta B.1.617.2 is NOT YET the most common variant for vaccine breakthrough cases in Washington State! That situation will almost certainly change over the next few weeks as Delta becomes more dominant across the U.S.
The most common variant currently causing vaccine breakthroughs in Washington State up to 30th June 2021 is Alpha, (B.1.1.7), at 37%, followed by Gamma (P.1) at 17%. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) currently only accounts for about 5% of vaccine breakthrough infections.
The Epsilon variant (B.1.429) is showing as being responsible for 15% of all breakthrough cases, yet represents just 3% of the total genome sequences for May to June, and never rose above 10% of genome samples from April 2021.
Washington State data on all breakthrough cases:
Source: Washington State Vaccine Breakthrough Report
Sars-CoV-2 variants circulating in Washington State April – June 2021:
Source: Washington Covid-19 Dashboard
As you can see, Washington State has recorded 2,228 vaccine breakthrough cases in total which represents a tiny fraction of the 6 million people now vaccinated in that state.
Our thanks to The Washington State Department of Health for providing this vital information.
USA: Washington State Vaccine Breakthroughs by Variant up to 14th July 2021
USA: Washington State Vaccine Breakthroughs by Variant up to 7th July 2021
Israel: 50% vaccine breakthrough for coronavirus cases in the last month
Israel: Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, Modi’in and Kochav Yair classified as #coronavirus hotspots
Tel Aviv and Kfar Saba were classified as coronavirus hotspots on Sunday, or ‘yellow’ under the Israeli health ministry’s traffic light system. Modi’in and Kochav Yair were also designated as coronavirus hotspots on Saturday. Israel recorded 113 new coronavirus cases and reinstated its mask mandate for indoor areas on Friday, following the rise in cases.
“About 0.6 percent of the tests are positive, indicating an increase in infection rate,” coronavirus czar Dr. Nahman Ash said.
Image by Stefan Nyffenegger from Pixabay
Uganda goes into total lockdown as #coronavirus infections rise
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Friday tightened restrictions in the country following a worrying rise in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
On a day when the country recorded 42 Covid-related deaths and 1,000 new infections, the Ugandan leader stopped the movement of public and private transport vehicles. Only security, emergency and other essential service providers, including the police, firefighters and the military have been exempted.
The new move tightened restrictions imposed a week ago, when cross-district travel was banned, schools closed and other public gatherings restricted yet the deaths continued to rise.
At the Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital Kampala, a ‘technical fault’ on Wednesday cut off oxygen supply to Covid-19 patients at the facility, leading to the death of several patients. The new highest death toll would arrive two days later when the country reported 42 deaths, raising the number of those killed by the virus to more than 400.
Image by Charles Nambasi from Pixabay
UK: What happens after June 21st 2021 – Britain’s #coronavirus “Freedom Day”?
By Step 4 which will take place no earlier than 21 June, the UK government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact. We hope to reopen remaining premises, including nightclubs, and ease the restrictions on large events and performances that apply in Step 3.
UK COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021
Prague COVID-19 Response – July 2020:
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
#Czech hospitals in #coronavirus crisis “Each vacated bed fills up immediately”
Sars-Cov-2 #coronavirus for sale online in project financed by the European Commission
Wuhan Institute of Virology viruses for sale – Zika virus at just $500! Add them to your shopping trolley today if you are a “trusted partner”!
- Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus ($2,000)
- Zika Virus ($500)
- Chikungunya virus ($2,000)
- Human Herpesvirus 1 & 2 ($2,000)
- Human enteroviruses ($2,000)
Available from other vendors:
- SARS-CoV Frankfurt 1 RNA ($500)
- SARS-CoV-2 isolates including B.1.1.7, B.1.351 etc ($2000)
EVAg – European Virus Archive – Global
EVAg is an infrastructure project financed by the European Commission.
Malaysia: Total lockdown from June 1st as #coronavirus cases hits new record
Malaysia will close all economic and social sectors by implementing a “total lockdown” throughout the country. The first phase of the lockdown will last from Jun 1 to Jun 14. This move was announced in a media statement posted on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Facebook page on Friday (May 28) night.
Only essential economic and service sectors listed by the National Security Council will be allowed to operate during Phase 1 of the lockdown, said the statement issued by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
“This decision was made after taking into account the current situation of COVID-19 transmission in Malaysia with daily case numbers exceeding 8,000 and active cases exceeding 70,000,” the statement read.
Malaysia has detected two Covid-19 Variant of Concern (VOC) and two Variant of Interest (VOI) to date.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the VOC identified were the United Kingdom variant or the B.1.1.7, and the South African variant, also known as the B.1.351.
The VOI found, he said, were the Nigeria (B.1525) variant and the B.1.617.1 variant from India.
“We have detected eight cases of the UK variant, three of which were local cases from Sandakan identified through close contact screening (two) and one from the Lorong Megah Jaya cluster.
Image by Peter Nguyen from Pixabay
Angola: Increase in #coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths as 2nd wave peaks
Lubango central hospital in Angola is under pressure due to the growing number of patients, reporting the possible collapse of the system. In the Angolan province of Huíla, local health authorities are concerned with the increase in deaths and cases of Covid-19, especially since the beginning of May. The province recorded 14 deaths in the last seven days, an average of two a day, in addition to an increase in hospitalizations for serious and critical cases at the central hospital in Lubango.
In view of the worsening situation and the fear of collapse in the health system, local health authorities are reiterating calls to the population to redouble preventive measures and announced the opening of four new Covid-19 patient care centers in the municipalities of Chibia , Kuvango, Jamba and Cacula and thus try to stop the wear and tear in the largest hospital in the region.
Voaportugues.com report from Angola
Uganda was the first country on the continent to confirm the presence of the B.1.617 variant first identified in India late last year.
This variant has now been reported in Kenya, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Botswana, Angola, DR Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Africa: Tanzania/Angola #coronavirus variant carries E484K & H655Y mutations
India: The stunning rise of the B.1.617.2 #coronavirus variant
Image by Erik Cleves Kristensen – View of Luanda, Angola, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2048784
Bahrain: #coronavirus cases surge to new high despite 40% of population being fully vaccinated
Bahrain, a country of just 1.7 million people, recorded 3,177 new COVID-19 infections and 11 deaths on Sunday 23rd May 2021. The country has now had to more than 218,000 coronavirus cases with over 800 deaths. Earlier this month authorities said they would expand the country’s vaccination campaign to include adolescents aged 12-17. There seems to be two main variants in Bahrain – B.1.351 and B.1.617.2 – which account for nearly half of all infections
Bahrain offers citizens and residents four vaccines free of charge: the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, China’s Sinopharm, the AstraZeneca vaccine and Russia’s Sputnik V. The Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has also been approved for emergency use.
The highest ever #coronavirus daily case rates recorded on Planet Earth – and it’s not India or Brazil
The highest ever daily country case figure for coronavirus on Planet Earth was recorded in The Seychelles in May 2021. The Seychelles daily case figure, adjusted for population, reached an astonishing 4,083 cases per million.
What is also surprising is that many of the countries on the list with the highest daily case rates also have excellent vaccination rates (see below). The Seychelles, for example, has vaccinated more than 60% of its population.
The reasons behind some of the high daily case numbers are given in articles we have previously published and have linked to below.
Seychelles: a population of 100,000 that has 900 #coronavirus vaccine breakthrough cases
Maldives: 60% positivity rate in Greater Male – “High chance of new #coronavirus variant”
Uruguay: over 1,000 daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases per million people
Sweden’s daily #coronavirus case rate far higher than Brazil or India
Seychelles: a population of 100,000 that has 900 #coronavirus vaccine breakthrough cases
Covid-19 cases in The Seychelles, where 57% of the population have been fully inoculated with Sinopharm shots, increased to 2,486 people – 37 per cent of whom have had two doses of the vaccine.
Sinopharm vaccine shots were issued to 57 per cent of those who were fully inoculated and the rest with Covishield, a vaccine made in India under a licence from AstraZeneca Plc. As of May 8th no one who had contracted Covid-19 while being vaccinated had died
Image by Manuel Willer from Pixabay
Seychelles: 30% #coronavirus vaccine breakthrough rate
The Seychelles, which has fully vaccinated over 60% of its population against Covid-19, is bringing back restrictions amid a rise in cases. The archipelago of nearly 100,000 people recorded close to 500 new cases in the three days to 1 May and has about 1,000 active cases. A third of the active cases involved people who have had two vaccine doses, the country’s news agency said. The rest had either had a single dose or were unvaccinated.
There are currently 1,068 active Covid cases in the Seychelles, of which a third have been detected in people given two doses of either AstraZeneca’s or China’s Sinopharm’s vaccine. It unclear what has triggered the surge in cases but testing has detected the South African variant spreading on the islands. (Daily Mail report)
Graph courtesy of Ourworldindata.org