COVID variant data goes online

The Virginia Department of Health and other state agencies have launched an online dashboard to provide information about COVID-19 variants that are of concern.

The virus has evolved into several variants since it was discovered more than a year ago. According to a press release from the health department, variants may:

• Spread more easily.

• Cause more severe illness.

• Escape the immune protection provided by available COVID-19 vaccines or by natural infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.

• Make viral tests less accurate.

• Make some treatments less effective.

Results on variants of concern that are reported to VDH are quite small compared to the total number of tests conducted daily. However, VDH uses this information to estimate that there are many more cases of COVID-19 caused by these variants circulating statewide than what are identified.

As of last week, about 1,000 variants of concern have been reported to VDH. This number increases daily.

With the threat of these new variant strains spreading, it is important now, more than ever, to wear a mask correctly over your mouth and nose, stay at least six feet from others, avoid crowds, wash your hands often and get vaccinated for COVID-19, health officials say.

The best way to stop variant strains from developing in the first place is to stop the spread of the virus.

The dashboard will be updated once a week and available at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-data-insights/.