Scott Gottlieb, FDA's former head, claims that the U.S. already has U.K.'s new mutant coronavirus strain. He added that the new strain of COVID-19 might have also originated in the United States instead of the United Kingdom.

According to the Daily Mail U.K., the new coronavirus strain is very alarming because it is 70% more transmissible than the previous COVID-19 strain. What's alarming is that it can now infect children easily, as reported by Independent U.K.

Since the new virus is really dangerous, Gottlieb suggested that all flights from Britain should be banned. Dozens of countries, including Canada, already implemented travel bans from and to the United Kingdom.

Jeremy Luban, a University of Massachusetts virologist, added that the new strain could have already started to spread even before it was detected in the United Kingdom.

The U.K. is considered to have a genome sequencing program that is the best in the world, compared to the United States' sporadic one.

U.K.'s new coronavirus strain is in the U.S.?

Scott Gottlieb is not the only one that believes the U.S. already has the new virus on its streets. Andrew Cuomo, New York's governor, also claims that the new strain has reached the United States. Dr. Anthony Fauci also said that you really need to assume it is already in the U.S. for safety practices.

Also Read: CDC's New COVID-19 Guidelines For Allergic People; Here Are the Recommendations You Need

"I would not be surprised at all if it's already here," said Fauci via the Daily Mail U.K.

On the other hand, Dr. Shira Doron, an epidemiologist in Boston, said that there's a high chance that the U.S. already has it since most people are traveling all the time.

"I don't think a travel ban is going to be particularly helpful. We already have out-of-control transmission of all the variants that are circulating in the US here," she added.

Children now more vulnerable than ever

U.K. scientists and researchers announced on Monday, Dec. 21, that children are more vulnerable to the new coronavirus strain. This could be the main cause of a significant proportion of the overall rise in cases. The new finding is very alarming since schools in England stayed open during the most recent national lockdown.

For more news updates about the new COVID-19 strain, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: COVID-19 New Strain: It's More Contagious, But Scientists Say Not to Worry

This article is owned by TechTimes.

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.