More countries isolate Britain over new strain of coronavirus

The mutation in 23 changes of the Covid 19 virus he isolated Great Britain from Europe. Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France and Italy have completely cut off their air, ferry and train communications with the kingdom. France met with the Health Defense Council to analyze a similar decision, as did Germany, which decided to reduce its ties with Britain, fearing that these new variants of Covid, 70% more transmissible than the viruses, do not spread. earlier and faster.

The new virus has modified its “peak” or spine, much larger than the previous one, and its proteins, which could mean that vaccines may need to be changed. But the problem is not this vaccine formula, but the logistical problem that would result. So far, there is no definitive answer on how the virus affects circulating vaccines.

The virus variation contains a mutation in the “Spike” protein, called N501Y, which allows it to adhere to human cells in order to enter them.

According to Dr Julian Trang of the University of Leicester, “This N501Y mutation, was already circulating sporadically earlier this year outside of the UK, Australia in June and July, the US in July and Brazil in April.

Britain has confirmed a record number of cases: 35,928 infected in 24 hours. A worrying figure for public health specialists, who are “very concerned by this sudden and sudden growth”.

“Most of the cases today are in London and the South East. It is too early to tell if they are related to the new variant, ”said Dr Yvone Doyle, Medical Director of Public Health England.

“What we do know is that the only way to control the virus is the same. Does not spread if contact with others is avoided“, He explained.

Investigation

In Great Britain, it was discovered in the south of the country, before a galloping progression of the epidemic. At least 1000 patients were carriers of this variant, which contains 23 changes. It accounts for 62% of cases in London, which has been contained, and 43% of cases from Kent to the Home Counties in south-eastern Britain.

At the moment, scientists around the world are analyzing the evolution of this variant.

In this context, the Astrazeneca Oxford project announced that the UK licensing agency could approve its vaccine on December 28. But everything will depend on the evolution of this virus and its impact. It is the vaccine which has a laboratory in Argentina and which does not need low temperatures for its distribution or maintenance.

The EU is “bunkering” in front of the risk of expansion of the new variant, in the middle of the campaign to start vaccination on the continent, in the last week of December. The EU decision was made when UK Health Minister Mathew Hancock admitted to adopting the toughest restrictions because “The new variant was out of control.” Great Britain has decided to “lockdown” Tier or alert 4, the maximum, in London and in the south-east of Great Britain, where the highest degree of contamination of the new variant is located. No one can leave their home or travel to and from the kingdom in this area.

“Unfortunately, the new variant was out of control. We have to take back control and the only way to do that is to restrict social contact, ”the British minister told Sky News.

French President Emmanuel Macron met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel of the Council to discuss the new variant of Covid, and later it was decided to shut down all communication with the island. Spain called for “a coordinated European response to the threat”.

On the day when Brexit is to be decided between the EU and the kingdom, the Netherlands were the first to decide to suspend flights from the UK to prevent the circulation of the new variant of Covid. Then he extended it to trains and ferries, which leave from its ports to the British. Dutch health minister said this was expected in the coming days “A European initiative” to prevent the variant of the virus from entering the mainland.

Europe

In this bunkerization to avoid contagion, Belgium suspended all flights and trains from Great Britain, from midnight Sunday. Brussels is one of the hubs for the Eurostar, the high-speed train that crosses the Channel from London. Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said that “the decision takes at least 24 hours”.

Italy is the one that immediately imitated the Netherlands, canceling flights and trains. Germany has decided to suspend flights to Great Britain and South Africa, where the variant has been detected. Ireland has suspended ferries and planes to and from Britain. Austria has also banned planes and buses.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that this variant of Covid has extended “to two other countries”, which he did not identify, and said he was in close contact with his European neighbors in light of the new situation.

In France, Covid has not only killed 60,418 people since the start of the pandemic. In the last 24 hours, there have been 17,565 cases.

The new variant It is not more lethal but it is faster and more transmissible than the previous one. The risk is that hospital services overflow. This is why these extreme isolation measures were taken with Great Britain.

So far, there is no evidence that will change the vaccination campaign, which is the health passport the continent is waiting for to return to some normalcy.

The decision to isolate Britain from midnight has caused a race to leave or return to Great Britain. There are huge queues at St Pancréas station to board the last Eurostar trains to Paris and Belgium, with the last trains running until midnight today. The insulation will last at least 72 hours.

London is empty because it entered the alert zone level 4 or maximum, cars and motorcycles are prohibited from driving in these zones. From St Pancréas and Waterloo station, thousands of Britons tried to flee the capital Saturday evening, before the entry of the restrictions that prevented them from spending Christmas with the family announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “There will be no Eurostar trains from Monday,” the company said.

In Liverpool, they ask everyone coming from London or the south-east of Great Britain to take a test.

The British arriving in Israel from Britain are in trouble. At least 25 Britons refused to enter quarantine at Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport and decided to return to London on the same plane that brought them.

Kuwait also ordered to cancel flights from London and 31 other countries as a precaution.

The fear of the mutant virus is global. It has been found in all parts of Great Britain except Northern Ireland.

PB