British Health Minister Matt Hancock reported yesterday that another more contagious mutation of the corona virus was discovered in the country after arriving from South Africa, while the first mutation discovered in the kingdom continues to spread to other countries. According to Hancock, two patients who have been in close contact with people visiting South Africa have so far been discovered.
Corona in the UK: London enters closure following British mutation (Photo: Reuters)
Hancock called on anyone returning from South Africa in the past two weeks and anyone who had been in close contact with them, to immediately go into isolation. He noted that this was a temporary step, pending a comprehensive investigation into the new mutation.
At the same time, Hancock said that early next week, severe Level 4 restrictions would be imposed on additional areas in the south-east and east of England, and in the south-west of the island extensive areas would be included in Level 3 restrictions.
“We must act,” he said. “I know how difficult 2020 was for everyone. We must not give up. We must suppress the virus until the vaccine makes us healthy. There is a clear sky on the horizon.”
Meanwhile the new mutation continues to spread around the world. Fears in Italy of a widespread outbreak of the “English mutation” after a carrier woman was discovered in the eastern town of Loreto. Preliminary epidemiological tests revealed that she had not visited England and had no connection to people returning from the British Isles. Due to this, the suspicion arises that the mutation arrived in Italy even before the British announcement about it last week, and that it has already caused a mass infection.
Hong Kong was also reported yesterday on suspicion of identifying the mutation. The local health ministry said samples taken from two students who returned to the city this month matched the contagious version discovered in the UK, and tests are now underway to verify the findings.
Professor Neil Ferguson, the senior epidemiologist who was a member of the British government’s scientific advisory team until his resignation after breaking the blockade to meet with his mistress, estimated yesterday: “The mutation is raging in most European countries, if not all.” At a hearing before the Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee, he noted that the tightening of restrictions is expected to help level the infection curve or slow down the rate of infection within two weeks.
Meanwhile, tensions are rising at Dover Port in the east of England, where violent clashes broke out yesterday between police forces and truck drivers who blocked roads and tried to break through barriers at the port entrance. At least one person was arrested. Some 5,000 trucks have been stuck on the way to the port and on the route of the nearby airport since France decided to close the border on Sunday evening due to the mutation.
The British and French governments have reached an agreement that will allow the resumption of traffic in exchange for a negative corona check, but the British government has admitted that it will be a few days before the evacuation of the trucks is completed. Yesterday, soldiers were sent to assist medical personnel in performing quick tests on drivers, many of whom are stuck without food and do not know if they will return home by Christmas starting this weekend.