Experts emphasize vigilance with COVID-19 variants in community

CHARLOTTE — An expert at UNC Charlotte said people will have to work harder to protect themselves against the COVID-19 variants found in the Carolinas.

“I’m just surprised, because I heard about the variants, but I thought they were contained,” a UNCC student told Channel 9.

UNCC professor Dan Janies said the variants discovered in the U.K. and South Africa could have a major impact on local nursing homes and hospitals.

“You’re going to have a chance of more infections,” Janies said. “Some will have comorbidities and some of them are going to have bad outcomes.”

[NC identifies first case of COVID-19 variant in Mecklenburg County resident]

Janies has been researching the variants that he said could be more prevalent in the area than officials know, partially due to the lack of widespread testing. Standard COVID-19 testing does not detect variants of the virus.

Mecklenburg County’s health department sent an email saying, “We are not testing or screening for these variants.”

Officials also said in the email: “We can assume that they are present in our community.”

[First US cases of COVID-19 variant from South Africa found in SC]

Janies said there needs to be “more stations for viral surveillance.”

“It’s expensive and requires specialized equipment and training, but we provide that training at UNC Charlotte,” he said.

NC identifies first case of COVID-19 variant in Mecklenburg County resident

The state has begun working with the CDC to test for the variant using random surveillance. In November, NC Public Health Laboratories started submitting positive COVID-19 specimens to the CDC’s national strain surveillance program. State health officials told Channel 9 they were sending five positive specimens every two weeks for testing.

In late December, the CDC increased the number of requested specimens from public labs across the country. Now, state officials say they are sending 31 specimens to the CDC every two weeks.

With new COVID-19 variants in our community, everyone will have to take extra steps to be safe, Professor Janies said.

“You have to be doubly careful with washing hands, covering mouth, social distancing,” Janies said. “This new variant is going to catch you if you’re not careful.”

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Mecklenburg County said the current focus for the state and the country is on vaccinations.

Experts said that is very important to prevent the spread of the more contagious strains.

Novant doctor concerned over variant

Officials at Novant Health also expressed concern.

“The arrival of a more contagious virus is concerning to us and leaves open the possibility of further peaks in cases and hospitalizations as we get into the spring,” Dr. David Priest said.

They believe there are more cases of the variant.

“Do we have these potentially more contagious variants in the state?” Priest said. “I can tell you right now we do, whether we’re checking for it or not I guarantee you, we do.”