As the coronavirus pandemic continues past its first year, variants of the virus continue to show up and there are ways you can protect yourself. 

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says as variants, such as the U.K. variant of the coronavirus, emerge some of the same rules apply on how you should protect yourself. 

“Separating yourself from persons not in your household works best to avoid contracting the virus and this is also true for young adults and children. At the time of spring break and now continuing into youth sports season in the spring, people have let their guard down and if they aren’t vaccinated there is a higher risk that they could get the new variant.” 

Cochran tells Raccoon Valley Radio with the new variant being more easily spreadable it could potentially lead to a new surge in cases as people continue to relax on social distancing practices. 

“The problem is that people are letting their guard down as far as mitigation. There are more and more folks participating in typical spring activities involving social activities without using a mask and that is going to cause an uptick in the number of cases if there is this virus which is very, very spreadable here in Iowa.”

Cochran says the virus could spread quickly as people are intermingling without using social distancing measures.