Doctor says we need to be one step ahead of the variant

OF THE VIRUS. ANGELA: AS THE VACCINE GETS INTO MORE ARMS HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE TREASURE COAST, ONE LOCAL DR. IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VARIANCE THAT ARE OUT THERE. DR. MOTI RAMGOPAL IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST. HIS CLINIC, THE MIDWAY SPECIALTY CARE CENTER, IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THOSE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE GET THE SHOT. HE’S KEEPING AN EYE ON THE U.K. VARIANT. >> THERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS COMING OUT THAT THE VACCINE WILL PROTECT AGAINST THE U.K VARIANT TO SOME EXTENT, AND THAT’S REALLY, REALLY GOOD NEWS. ANGELA: HE’S ALSO FOLLOWING THE VARIANTS OUT OF SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT AND BRAZIL. HE SAYS WE NEED TO STAY ONE STEP AHEAD. >> OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS TESTING FOR THOSE VARIANTS. HOW DO WE GET THESE TESTING DONE? THERE ARE VERY FEW COMMERCIAL LABS DOING IT. THE CDC IS NOT REACHING OUT TO GET IT DONE. I REQUESTED ONE PATIENT YESTERDAY ARE A FEW DAYS AGO TO GET WHAT W CALLS SEQUENCING OF THIS VIRUS, AND IT IS SO DIFFICULT. ANGELA: ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 DAILY UPDATE ON FEBRUARY 10, THE CDC HAS INCREASED GENOME SEQUENCING EFFORTS TENFOLD IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS IN AN ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY NOVEL CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS. >> I THINK IT’S SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSING THAT THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS DAY, YOU LOOK A THE U.K AND THE RESEARCH GOING ON AT THE U.K AND THE REST OF THE WORLD , AND WE ARE PLAYING CATCH UP RIGHT NOW. WE SHOULD BE THE LEADER IN RESEARCH IN THIS AREA AND WE ARE

The state of Florida is outpacing the rest of the country in the number of COVID-19 variant cases tied to the U.K., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Reports show there are more than 380 cases now identified across Florida.Dr. Moti Ramgopal is keeping an eye on the variants.The infectious disease specialist says it's good news that the vaccine will protect against the U.K. variant but adds we need to stay one step ahead."Our challenge right now is testing for those variants," Ramgopal said. "There are very few commercial labs doing it."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 wants more testing to be done on a national level."We need to know where the variants are. We need to know what's the concentration of the variants so we can educate our patients and educate our community."According to the Feb. 10 White House COVID-19 update, the CDC is working to identify coronavirus variants.

The state of Florida is outpacing the rest of the country in the number of COVID-19 variant cases tied to the U.K., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Reports show there are more than 380 cases now identified across Florida.

Dr. Moti Ramgopal is keeping an eye on the variants.

The infectious disease specialist says it's good news that the vaccine will protect against the U.K. variant but adds we need to stay one step ahead.

"Our challenge right now is testing for those variants," Ramgopal said. "There are very few commercial labs doing it."

He wants more testing to be done on a national level.

"We need to know where the variants are. We need to know what's the concentration of the variants so we can educate our patients and educate our community."

According to the Feb. 10 White House COVID-19 update, the CDC is working to identify coronavirus variants.

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