A new variant of the coronavirus in Britain that, according to researchers, spreads 70 percent more effectively, causes Prime Minister Boris Johnson to close many parts of the country at Christmas.
The new variant of COVID-19 is no more deadly than the original virus, nor does it seem that people are getting any sicker. But it is spreading more easily, and that has scared the UK government to actually cancel Christmas.
The researchers think the vaccine developed by Pfizer will still be effective, but scientists are trying to confirm that.
CNN:
According to Whitty, the new variety is responsible for 60% of infections in London, which have nearly doubled in the past week.
Earlier, he said there is “urgent work” underway to determine whether the new species, found in the south-east of England, could cause a higher mortality rate.
“There is currently no evidence to suggest that the new strain causes a higher death rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments, although urgent work is underway to confirm this,” Whitty said in a statement.
There does not seem to be any widespread viral fatigue, as in America. But given these limitations, you can quickly expect resistance.
NBC News:
As a result, non-essential stores, gyms, movie theaters, hairdressers and bowling alleys will have to close for two weeks, while people are limited to meeting another person from another household in an outdoor public space.
A “bubble” policy – allowing up to three households to meet during the holiday season – will be severely curtailed and will only apply on Christmas Day, Johnson said.
He added that he was “bitterly sorry” about the changes, but insisted that the changes were “necessary.”
Don’t be surprised if that number – 70 percent faster spread of the virus – is adjusted downwards. That estimate is based on “preliminary models” with only a few thousand cases. Obviously, the more data you have, the more accurate your model is. We’ll see how quickly the new variety spreads after a month or two.
In the meantime, you might be wondering why this makes any difference? If the vaccine is still effective against it (has yet to be proven) and the death rate is not higher, then why worry?
The faster the corona virus spreads, the more people get sick. More sick people means that more hospital beds are needed. And while the percentage of critically ill people is likely to remain stable, more infections mean more seriously ill and dead people.
So Johnson felt he should act. Shutting down the country for a few weeks won’t help. The new variant will still be present when the lockdowns end. That’s a lesson we learned here from spring lockdown. And as soon as the virus starts infecting humans again, we begin the same cycle as before: reopening, followed by restraints, followed by relaxed restraints, followed by another lockdown.
That vaccine won’t be fast enough here.