Biden's COVID-19 Advisor Vivek Murthy: No Evidence That New COVID-19 Strain Is Deadlier

Indian-American physician Vivek Murthy, US President-elect Joe Biden's pick for Surgeon General, has said there is no evidence to suggest that a new and more contagious coronavirus variant reported in the UK is any deadlier.

Murthy, 43, said that there was no reason to believe that the coronavirus vaccines that have already been developed would not be effective against the new strain as well.

"This news from the UK appears to be about a new strain of the virus that’s more transmissible, more contagious than the virus we’ve seen prior to this," he said.

"While it seems to be more transmissible, we do not have evidence yet that this is a more deadly virus to an individual who acquires it," Murthy told News on Sunday.

Several countries have announced restrictions on UK travel and suspended flights amid growing concerns of an "out of control" new variant of coronavirus spreading at a much faster pace in parts of England.

It is thought the variant either emerged in a patient in the UK or has been imported from a country with a lower ability to monitor coronavirus mutations.

"The bottom line is if you're at home and you're hearing this news, it does not change what we do in terms of precautions as individuals that can reduce the spread of this virus. It turns out that masking, that keeping physical distance, washing our hands - these are still the pillars of preventing Covid transmission,” Murthy said.

Asked if he agreed the vaccine would be rolled out by spring in the US, he said: "I think when it comes to the



vaccine timeline, we all want the vaccine to be delivered as quickly (and) as fairly as possible”.

"However, we likewise need to be sensible about the course of events. I feel that if everything works out in a good way, we may see a situation where, by pre-summer, individuals who are in lower-hazard classes can get this antibody, however that would truly expect everything to go precisely on schedule...We need to be hopeful yet we need to be mindful too," he said. 

Biden named Murthy as his Surgeon General this month, oozing certainty that the famous Indian-American doctor will be a critical voice on his reaction to the Covid pandemic to reestablish public trust and confidence in science and medication. 

After his selection, Murthy had said that he will devote himself to thinking about each American, will be driven consistently by science and realities, by head and heart - and be unendingly thankful to serve one of only a handful few nations on the planet where the grandson of a helpless rancher in India can be asked by the duly elected president to pay special mind to the strength of the whole country.

"That is a testament to the promise of America -- one that I will work to fulfil every day as Surgeon General," he had said. Murthy served as Surgeon General of the United States during the Obama administration and had to leave abruptly when Donald Trump became the US President.

Murthy was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire to immigrants from Karnataka. In 1978, the family crossed the Atlantic to Newfoundland, where his father worked as a District Medical Officer.