New COVID-19 variant found in UK related to South Africa
In the middle of the concern of the new coronavirus mutant found in the United Kingdom, another COVID-19 variant has now been found related to South Africa.
Many countries have close their borders for passengers travelling from South Africa.
Uk went through the same restrictions on discovey of the new covid strain.
Another mutated strain of COVID-19 has been discovered in the United Kingdom, even as countries around the world intensified efforts to prevent transmission of an earlier mutated strain of the virus from the island nation. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the development public on Wednesday, adding that this new variant of coronavirus possibly originated in South Africa.
While the first mutant was claimed by many to be about 70 per cent more infectious than SARS-CoV-2, Hancock reportedly informed that the new strain identified today is even more transmissible than the first one.
Thanks to the impressive genomic capability of the South Africans, we’ve detected two cases of another new variant of coronavirus here in the UK,” Hancock said during a media briefing in London today. “Both are contacts of cases who have travelled from South Africa over the past few weeks,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying.
This new variant is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and it appears to have mutated further than the new variant that has been discovered in the UK,” added Hancock, highlighting the increasing uncertainty in ascertaining the spread of the two mutant viruses.
As the UK registered 36,804 positive cases on Wednesday – its highest ever for this pandemic – the ministers held talks wherein decisions regarding stringent lockdown measures were deliberated upon.
Meanwhile, analysis of the new mutation and its extent of spread in the UK by scientific experts continued at Porton Down, the country’s specialist laboratory in south-west England
Here are few points about the new coronavirus mutant found in South Africa and what we know so far about the variant as reported by Hindustan Times
- Two cases belonging to this new category have been found in the UK, British health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed
- In both cases the patients came in contact with those who travelled from South Africa over the past few weeks
- South Africa had detected the mutation earlier. It reported last week that scientists have found a new genetic mutation which might be responsible for the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in South Africa.
- The variant has been named as 501.V2, South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Twitter.
- Younger people with no co-morbidities are being infected by the new variant.
- The new variant was discovered through routine surveillance by the laboratories in South Africa. Initially, the variant was confined to coastal regions, but has now entered inland.
- Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel and Mauritius have banned flights from South Africa.
- The South African variant may allow the virus to better bind to and enter cells than previous variants, which is why transmission rate is higher, scientists told The Guardian.
- South Africa reported a sudden spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in January. The new variant is believed t
Written by Garima Arora