[ad_1]
The discovery of two new coronavirus variants in the UK has led authorities to reclassify the strains as concerns across the country.
The two new coronavirus mutations found in Bristol and Liverpool were reclassified as ‘variant of concern’ and ‘variant under investigation’ respectively by the UK government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) on Tuesday.
Watch |
Public Health England has reported at least 55 cases of the Liverpool mutation and 14 cases of the Bristol variant, reports The Sun.
Read also | Don’t let Long Covid ‘fall through the cracks’, WHO warns
Both variants contain an E484K mutation which has been localized in the South African and Brazilian variants and may render the Covid-19 vaccine ineffective.
Last week, mass tests were announced in Liverpool and Bristol where cases of the South African variant have increased.
The UK government is expected to confirm that travelers arriving in the UK from overseas will have to undergo two quarantine coronavirus tests.
“Improving our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they self-isolate will provide an additional level of protection and allow us to better track any new cases that may be brought into the country, and give us even more ‘opportunities to detect new variants, “a spokesperson was quoted by the AFP news agency.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces harsh criticism of being lax in testing international leaflets which has led to an increase in cases of various variants identified overseas.
Under the new lockdown rules, travelers from 33 countries, including South Africa and all countries in South America, are banned from entering the UK.
Source link
