In view of the alarming increase in coronavirus cases related to the new strain, England began a new closure on Sunday as part of the strict restrictive measures imposed by the British government.
The emergence of a new variant of coronavirus has forced the British authorities to impose harsh restrictive measures in much of the UK, warning that the strain was “out of control” in the face of alarming increases in cases and hospitalizations in COVID hospitals. -19.
The head of the British Medical Authority, Chris Whitty, said on Saturday that the World Health Organization (WHO) had already been informed about the discovery of the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Whitty said members of a panel told him and the government they were afraid of it “The new strain can spread faster.”
“We alert the WHO”, indicated the. Although he clarified that, for the time being, there is no evidence that the new variant of coronavirus causes more deaths or affects the effectiveness of vaccines.
According to international media, British government scientists have identified 17 linked mutations in the virus’s genetic code that make him suspect that this newly discovered strain is more infectious and spreads more easily.
The scientific director of the government, Patrick Vallance, indicated that the strain – known as VUI 202012/01 – could have originated in London or Kent (south-east of England) in September.
“This new variant not only advances rapidly, but also becomes the dominant variant”, exposed the.
The WHO ruled on the matter on Sunday and said that in addition “Among the preliminary indications that the variant could be more contagious”, the strain in question “It could also affect the effectiveness of diagnostic methods”, Yes, “According to preliminary information”.
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Instead “There is no evidence of any change in the severity of the disease”, although this question is also being investigated.
The international body told AFP that it had asked its European members to “tighten their control” over the new coronavirus variant detected in the United Kingdom.
Following the discovery of the new variant of coronavirus, several European countries decided this Sunday to suspend their flights from the United Kingdom.
This is not the first new strain of SARS-CoV-2 concern detected. According to elpais.com, a similar situation forced the Danish government to slaughter millions of minks in November last year, after discovering another variant of the coronavirus that spread among breeding farms and then jumped to humans. Despite the findings, it has not yet been possible to prove that these new strains are more contagious or infectious than those already detected, he added.
Much of the UK is limited
Faced with scientific evidence that the new strain is accelerating the transmission of the virus by up to 70%, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to change population movement plans this Christmas amid criticism from the Labor Party for failing to take action. these measures earlier.
In this way, more than 20 million people were imprisoned in England on Sunday, when strict restrictive measures came into force due to the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases.
Draconian measures have been imposed on London and large areas of the south-east of England, which have been at risk level 4 – severe – since Sunday, with the closure of non-essential shops, gyms, hairdressers and a ban on other areas of the country.
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With these rules, the flexible plans that the Government authorized between December 22-28 have also been amended so that families and friends can get together for Christmas.
Those living at level 4 will not be able to join other people living at lower levels, while the rest of England, which is between levels 1-3 – low, moderate and substantial -, this flexibility will be reserved only for the day Christmas, a measure that will also apply in Scotland and Wales.
British Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday that the new coronavirus strain was “out of control” to justify the blockade of London and part of England.
The rules set in England will last two weeks and will be reviewed on 30 December. However, Hancock warned that these measures could remain in place until widespread vaccination.
“Unfortunately, the new strain got out of hand. We had to regain control, it’s the only way to do that, to restrict social contacts. “Hancock told Sky News, adding that the situation is “Extremely serious”.
“It will be very difficult to control it until we distribute the vaccine“, He indicated.”We will have to deal with this for the next two months. “, he showed.
“For me, these reports on the transmissibility of the new variant are even more worrying than I anticipated.” Paul Hunter, a professor at Norwich School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, explained to the SMC science news service. In statements taken from elpais.com, the expert warned that it is “a matter of time” before this variant of the virus becomes the dominant one in the United Kingdom and appears in other countries.
“This new variant is very worrying and is different from anything we have seen so far in the pandemic. The new restrictions announced today are a fully justified response to the rapidly developing situation. “Jeffrey Barrett, director of the Covid Genomics initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, told the same media.
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