Global alert for new strains in Brazil, UK and South Africa

Brazilian scientists discovered in Rio de Janeiro a new mutation of the B.1.1.28 strain, circulating in Brazil since April. As of yet, there are no further details on its contagiousness or lethality.

The new variant was reportedly born last July and was first identified in October. According to scientists, it would be concentrated in the city of Rio de Janeiro although, like other strains, it is assumed that it could spread quickly

The National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) analyzed 180 genome samples from different parts of the state and identified a new mutation that would be characterized by five variations of the RBD domain of peak protein. .

“The significant increase in the frequency of this lineage raises concerns about public health management and the need for genomic surveillance during the second wave of infections,” the scientists noted in the study. In the past few hours, the state has reported 2,975 cases new (bringing the number of infections to 414,344 since the start of the pandemic) and 179 new deaths (24,773 in total)

On the other hand, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a second case of a new strain of coronavirus from South Africa has been detected. “This new variant is of great concern as it is even more heritable and appears to have mutated more than the (first) new variant which was discovered in the UK,” Hancock explained.

Last week, the South African Department of Health announced that it had detected a new strain (501Y.V2) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the second wave of infections crossing the country.

South Africa is close to one million infections and with 9,501 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, this is the highest peak in daily infections recorded since July. The country has passed the barrier of 25,000 deaths from Covid-19 and is the African country most affected by the pandemic. The health system is demanding and some private hospitals do not have available beds.

Like the British or Rio de Janeiro strains, the South African variant also exhibits mutations in the spike protein. The UK government said the new strain was behind the increase in daily cases – the UK reported nearly 40,000 infections yesterday. and 744 deaths, the highest number since April – and decided to add seven more zones (involving around 16 million people) to the phase of strict containment that London and the south-east of England are already in .

The new variant “is spreading at a dangerous rate,” Hancock said, adding that cases rose 57% last week.

From the following 26, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, most of Hampshire and the part of Essex which was not yet in phase 4, enter a new phase of containment which establishes the closure of local unrestricted increased social gatherings.

“Against this backdrop of increased infections, increased hospitalizations and increasing numbers of people dying from the coronavirus, it is absolutely vital that we respond,” Hancock warned.

The health secretary said there was an average of 1,909 hospital admissions per day for coronavirus, with 18,943 people currently hospitalized at levels not seen since the peak of the first outbreak in April.