The First Week of 2021

By Kaliya Trias, News Editor

JESSICA MCGOWAN/Getty Images

Stepping into the new year with civil unrest and the storming of the U.S. Capitol made it so other affairs were overlooked. Events such as a new COVID-19 variant present in the United Kingdom, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock winning the senate race in Georgia, and a Wisconsin pharmacist being arrested for attempting to destroy hundreds of COVID-19 vaccines all occurred at the start of 2021.

Although the first COVID-19 variant was recorded in December, it has begun to spread globally throughout the start of this year. There are a larger number of mutations with this variant and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that it spreads easier and quicker than its counterpart.

“State public health laboratory has confirmed the first two cases of the UK COVID-19 variant in the state of Maryland,” Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland said. “We may have found it faster than other people, but I think it’s pretty much everywhere across the country.”

The new variant of the virus spreading throughout the United Kingdom will be tracked within the United States as air travel is permitted.

Aside from COVID-19, the majority in the Senate has shifted to the Democrats since the election of Ossoff and Warnock in the state of Georgia. The two new senators are set to be sworn into their Senate seats as early as next week.

“The labelled democratic party as the majority power is better since our future president will have a higher chance of passing a bill that other democratic politicians will agree with,” junior Luis Aguilar said. “New laws might invoke chaos, especially if the republicans are against it, but there will be more law related opportunities for the president.”

The swearing in of the two new senators will create a democratic majority in the senate, which will continue to affect the COVID-19 related policies and mandates.

In other COVID-19 related news, a Wisconsin pharmacist, Steven Brandenburg, allegedly believed the vaccine to be unsafe and attempted to destroy hundreds of doses of the Moderna vaccine. In fear of patients' DNA being mutated, the admitted conspiracy theorist wanted to prevent any harm from being inflicted upon the world.

Arrested on Dec. 31, Brandenburg has potentially damaged thousands of dollars worth of materials as he kept vials of the vaccine unrefrigerated for hours.

“There is no evidence that the individual in question tampered with the vaccine in any way other than removing from refrigeration, leading to what is known as denaturing the vaccine,” Aurora Health Care medical group President Dr. Jeff Barr said.

Investigations are still underway as to whether or not any of the given vaccines continue their effectiveness after having been left out by Brandenburg. The Grafton police department is still looking at the evidence to properly charge Brandenburg.