LONDON (AP) – There is little evidence that a new coronavirus variable first identified in the south-east of England has a higher risk of death than the original species, the British government’s chief scientific adviser said on Friday – although he stressed that the data is inconclusive.
Patrick Vallance said at a keynote news conference at 10 Downing St. “There is evidence that those with the new variant are at greater risk.”
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“We have been told today that, in addition to spreading faster, there now seems to be some evidence that the new variant – the variant that was first identified in London and East – be associated with a higher mortality rate, ”said Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
Vallance, for a man in his 60s with the original version of the virus, said, “the average risk is that about 1,000 people would be expected to catch the disease, unfortunately, unfortunately.”
“With the new change, for 1,000 people infected, it is expected that around 13 or 14 people will die,” he said.
But Vallance confirmed that “the evidence is not yet strong” and more research is needed.
Compared to that uncertainty, he said, there is growing confidence that the variant is easier to administer than the original coronavirus strain. He said it appears to be between 30% and 70% more mobile.
Maria Van Kerkhove, technical director of the World Health Organization on COVID-19, said studies are underway to look at the spread and severity of new viral changes.
She said so far “they have not seen an increase in depth” but that more spread could lead to an “overweight health care system” and therefore more deaths.
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The evidence for the new variant is more lethal than a paper prepared by a group of scientists who will advise the government on new respiratory viruses, based on several studies.
Paul Hunter, a professor of medical school at the University of East Anglia, said, “The conclusion about this deadly increase comes from studies carried out by a number of different organizations, although they worked with the same data of course. ”
“There is a slight difference in greater risk of death between the various studies, although most but not all show an increased risk of death,” he said.
Ian Jones, professor of Virology at the University of Reading, said “the data is limited and the conclusions are initial. However, a higher mortality rate is possible with a virus that has spread its game. ”
British officials say they are confident that the vaccines approved for use against COVID-19 will be effective against the new snoring that has been identified in the country.
But Vallance said scientists are concerned that variables identified in Brazil and South Africa may be more stable on vaccines, adding that more research is needed.
Concerns about recently identified variables have prompted a number of new travel trends around the world. Many countries have closed their borders to British travelers, and the UK has suspended flights from Brazil and South Africa.
Johnson said there could be further restrictions. “We may have to go further to protect our borders,” he said.
Britain has recorded 95,981 deaths among people who tested positive for the coronavirus, the highest number confirmed in Europe.
The UK is currently in an effort to halt the latest outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak. Pubs, restaurants, leisure centers and many shops are closed, and people have to stay mostly at home.
The number of new infections has started to fall, but deaths are still high, averaging over 1,000 per day, and the number of patients in hospital is 80% higher than at ‘first peak of the pandemic in the spring.
Johnson, who is often accused of making overly optimistic predictions about resting on coronavirus restrictions, was feeling gloomy.
“We have to live with coronavirus in one way or another for a long time to come,” he said, adding that it is “an open question” when measures can be reduced.
“At this stage you have to be very careful, of course,” he said.
Vallance agreed: “I don’t think this virus is going anywhere,” he said. “This is going to be around, maybe, forever.”
Added MarketWatch.
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