U.K. Coronavirus Variant Is Now the Dominant Strain in the U.S., CDC Says

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the U.K. variant of the coronavirus is now the dominant strain in the United States, according to NBC News . The spread of the variant, which is more infectious, compounds worries that the country may about to experience another surge. The CDC predicted back in January that the U.K. variant could become dominant in the U.S. by March, with the agency forecasting "rapid growth" in the coming months. Both COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations are rising, even as the nation immunizes an average of nearly 3 million people per day. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said some recent clusters of cases have been connected to day care centers and youth sports, adding that the increase appears to be driven by young people. Studies have suggested that the vaccines currently available can guard against the U.K. variant, but there are concerns that continued virus proliferation could give rise to vaccine-resistant strains.