Given the alarming rise in coronavirus cases associated with the new strain, England began re-incarceration this Sunday as part of the strict restrictive measures imposed by the UK government.
The emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus has forced the UK authorities to adopt tough restrictive measures in much of the UK and warn that the strain was “out of control” in light of the alarming increase in numbers. cases and admissions in COVID hospitals. -19.
The head of the UK Medical Authority, Chris Whitty, said on Saturday that the World Health Organization (WHO) had already been informed of the discovery of the new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Whitty said members of a group of experts told him and the government they feared that “The new species can spread faster.”
“We warn the WHO”, he indicated. Although he clarified that, for now, there is no evidence that the new variant of the coronavirus causes more deaths or affects the effectiveness of vaccines.
According to international media, UK government scientists have determined that there are 17 linked mutations in the genetic code of the virus that suggest this newly discovered strain is more contagious and spreads more easily.
The government’s scientific director, Patrick Vallance, has indicated that the species – known as VUI 202012/01 – could have originated in London or Kent (South East English) in September.
“This new variant is not only making rapid progress, but is also becoming the dominant variant”, he exposed.
The WHO ruled on the matter this Sunday and stated it additionally “From the preliminary indications that the variant could be more contagious”, the species in question “It can also affect the effectiveness of some diagnostic methods”, Yes, “According to preliminary information”.
POSSIBLY INTERESTED: Several countries suspend flights from the UK due to a variant of covid-19 “out of control”
Instead “There is no evidence of any change in the severity of the disease”although that question is also being explored.
The international agency told AFP that it has asked its members in Europe to “tighten their controls” because of the new variant of the coronavirus discovered in the UK.
After the discovery of the new variant of the coronavirus, several European countries decided this Sunday to suspend their flights from the United Kingdom.
This is not the first new concern for SARS-CoV-2 to be detected. According to elpais.com, a similar situation forced the Danish government to slaughter millions of minks last November, after discovering another variant of the coronavirus that spread among farms and then jumped on people. Despite the findings, it has not yet been possible to show that these new strains are more contagious or contagious than the strains already detected, he added.
Much of the UK was limited
Faced with scientific evidence indicating that the new strain is accelerating the transmission of the virus by up to 70%, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to change plans for population movements before Christmas amid criticism from the opposition. PvdA because it has not taken these measures before.
More than 20 million people have been incarcerated in England this way since Sunday, when strict restrictive measures come into effect amid the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases.
The draconian measures have been imposed on London and large parts of the south-east of England, which have been at risk level 4 -severe- since this Sunday, with the closure of non-essential shops, gyms, hairdressers and the ban on moving to other areas. of the country.
You may be interested: In a desperate effort to contain Covid-19 outbreak, Panama announces total quarantine for Christmas and year-end celebrations
With these rules, the flexible plans approved by the government between December 22 and 28 have also been adapted to allow families and friends to gather for Christmas.
Those living on level 4 will not be able to join other people living on lower levels, while the rest of England, which is between levels 1 to 3 – low, medium and substantial – this flexibility will only be reserved for Christmas Day, a measure that will also apply in Scotland and Wales.
British Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday that the new strain of the coronavirus “got out of hand” to justify the closure of London and part of England.
The rules set in England last two weeks and will be revised on December 30th. However, Hancock warned that these measures could remain in effect until the vaccination is widespread.
“Unfortunately the new strain got out of hand. We had to regain control, it’s the only way to do it, limit social contacts “Hancock told Sky News, adding that the situation is “Extremely serious”.
“It will be very difficult to get it under control until we distribute the vaccine“He indicated.”We will have to deal with that for the next two months “, he pointed.
“For me these reports about the portability of the new variant are even more concerning than I expected”, Paul Hunter, a professor at Norwich School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, explained to the science news service SMC. In statements from elpais.com, the expert warned that it is “a matter of time” before this variant of the virus becomes the dominant variant in the UK and appears in other countries.
“This new variant is very concerning and unlike anything we’ve seen so far in the pandemic. The new restrictions announced today are a fully justified response to the rapidly evolving situation “Jeffrey Barrett, director of the Covid Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, told the same media.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: “It’s a Black Day.” Denmark to euthanize millions of minks due to coronavirus mutation that infected humans