Israeli health officials are reportedly worried about a new, more infectious strain of coronavirus found in England and are weighing the test of those who have returned to Israel from the United Kingdom for that variant.
“There have been talks this afternoon and tonight. We are considering the necessary ramifications and steps, “an official from the Ministry of Health told the Ynet news site on Saturday night, on condition of anonymity.
One of the suggestions raised at Ministry of Health meetings was to order genetic sequencing for Israelis who recently returned from the UK and other European countries and subsequently tested positive for coronavirus, according to the report.
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Dr. Gila Rahav, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, told the Ynet news site: “The real question is whether the vaccine covers this strain. I imagine that even if it becomes a problem because mRNA [technology exists], we could develop a vaccine for this as well. ”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expects to receive a coronavirus vaccine at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan on December 19, 2020. (AMIR COHEN / POOL / AFP)
She spoke hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein received the first vaccines in the country, while Israel launched its inoculation.
Rahav also criticized the government for not testing Israelis entering the country for the virus.
“We need serious monitoring of those returning from abroad. We need to start doing genome sequencing tests for those returning from the UK and other countries where it will become clear in the coming days whether the mutation has spread or not, ”she said.
The director general of the Ministry of Health, Chezy Levy, signed an order on Friday ordering the return of passengers from all countries in mandatory quarantine, starting with December 26, Channel 12 reported. However, this largely targeted dozens of thousands of Israelis who have traveled to Dubai in recent weeks.
Technician collects nasal swab samples for COVID-19 at coronavirus laboratory at Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on December 14, 2020 (Yossi Aloni / Flash90)
“Up to 70% more transmissible”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced a “stay home” order for London and the south-east of England to slow down the new coronavirus strain.
Early data suggest the new strain could be “up to 70 percent more transmissible,” Johnson said in a televised briefing.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a virtual press conference at 10 Downing Street in central London on 19 December 2020. (TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP)
Patrick Vallance, the British government’s chief scientific adviser, said the new strain could be present in other countries.
“This virus has taken off, moves fast and inevitably leads to a sudden increase in hospitalizations,” Vallance said.
Vallance said the new coronavirus strain “contains 23 different changes,” including variants that are associated with how the virus binds to cells and enters cells.
By the week of December 9, the new strain accounted for 60 percent of cases in London, he said.
“We think it could be in other countries,” he said.
England’s medical director Chris Whitty said earlier on Saturday that Britain had informed the World Health Organization of its findings on the new coronavirus strain.
Are we in close contact with the UK ???????? officials on the new # COVID-19 virus variant. They will continue to share information and results of ongoing analysis and studies. We will update Member States and the public as we learn more about the characteristics of this virus variant and any implications.
– World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 19, 2020
Downing Street said it also informed leaders in other parts of the UK.
There was no evidence that the new strain caused more severe disease or higher mortality, Johnson said.
Likewise, there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will be less effective against the new variant, he said.
Separately, a severe variant of the coronavirus has been detected in South Africa, which could explain the rapid spread of a second wave affecting younger people, the South African health minister said on Friday. Known as variant 501.V2, it was identified by South African researchers, and the details were sent to the World Health Organization, Zwelini Mkhize said in a statement.