A new snort of the coronavirus has caused a pandemonium in the UK with the government announcing strict locking measures at Christmas and New Year. The new strain, B117, is said to be 70% more portable and has forced several countries to ban transport from the UK.
What’s the new strain?
The mutated strain is called B117 and is linked to the change in the structure of the protein spikes on the virus that helps it to attach itself to human cells. This movement has allowed the virus to capture cells at a much faster rate. Countries around the world have been skeptical about the effectiveness of vaccines against the new virus.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, the reproductive rate, also known as the ability of an infected person to spread the virus, of the new Covid-19 variant has risen from 1.1 to 1.5. However, it has not been shown to affect vaccines or the vaccination process.
What has WHO said?
WHO said people can protect themselves from snoring by following standard safety protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining social distance. Kerkhove said in an interview with CNN on Monday that they did not expect any effect on the vaccine because of the pressure. “So far we have not seen any increase in the depth of disease or clinical picture. We are also looking at the ability of the group to develop antibodies. The investigations are ongoing, ”she said.
WHO and doctors from the UK have set up a surveillance system to investigate the distribution of B117 strain. Like scientists, viruses naturally evolved. All viruses, including the coronavirus, circulate as they reproduce and are passed from one person to another. “We have to work a little harder as the new Covid-19 version releases. These are the presence of interventions implemented across England. Viruses suppress, they change all the time, ”said Kerkhove.
What steps has the UK taken?
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tight locking measures even at Christmas in London and parts of the south of England. Johnson urged citizens to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve indoors as the high transmission rate of B117 flows would put a huge strain on the British NHS if the virus was spread undetected.
What steps have other countries taken?
India announced the cancellation of all flights from the UK to India from 23 December to 31 December on Monday. Those who arrived before the suspension period were required to undergo mandatory RT-PCR tests upon arrival. The Maharashtra state government said travelers coming from the Middle East and Europe had to go through 15 days of institutional quarantine while those from anywhere else in the world had to go under quarantine home.
Europe has suspended travel from Britain, with France being the first country to ban anyone coming from the UK into its borders. Shortly afterwards, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece and Russia have banned trips to and from the UK. Countries outside Europe such as India, Argentina, El Salvador, Chile, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Ecuador and Israel have also suspended flights from the UK.