Fact Check: Coronavirus variants circulating in the U.S. did not come from migrants at the border

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/08/06/fact-check-covid-19-variants-not-migrants-u-s-mexico-border/5420387001/

*snip*


Variants spread in US before Central America

Public health officials are monitoring four notable coronavirus variants in the U.S. None of them circulated in Central America first.

That's according to data from GISAID, a nonprofit organization that tracks the genetic sequencing of viruses. Each of the four variants started circulating in the U.S. before countries like Mexico.

Take delta, for example.

The variant was first detected in India in December before spreading to the U.S. in March, according to the CDC. A data visualization from GISAID shows the variant spread directly to the U.S. from India and the United Kingdom between March and April. In May, Americans brought the variant to Mexico, where some cases from India had already been identified.

The alpha, beta and gamma coronavirus variants also spread to the U.S. before circulating in Central America, according to GISAID's data.

*snip*

[blogslug]

1. I can't believe how much it sucks that this has to be stated

these damned racist liars are killing us all

[TheFarseer]

2. I was with some relatives last night

And they were blaming open borders. I had to point out we have consistently had more cases than any other country, but they still weren’t buying it. I had a lot more arguments but if you know my family, it’s not worth making them.