U.S. efforts to detect dangerous, fast-moving Covid-19 mutations that are already bedeviling states remain slim and disconnected as the Biden administration seeks to speed up the process.
While as many as 7,000 to 8,000 samples are being analyzed weekly, that’s just 1.7% of the 463,843 new cases in the U.S. last week, making it little more than a random effort. Meanwhile, three highly-contagious variants have gained significant footholds in the country, with two showing an ability to evade -- though not yet overcome -- existing vaccines.
