What we know about the new Covid-19 strain so far

The emergence of a new strain of the coronavirus has sparked a pandemonium in the UK, with the government announcing strict lockdown measures from Christmas until the New Year. The new strain, B117, is said to have been 70% more transmissible and has forced several countries to halt all transport from the UK.

What is the new strain?

The mutated strain is called B117 and is linked to the structural modification of the virus’s protein peaks that help it attach to human cells. This mutation allowed the virus to infect cells at a much faster rate. Countries around the world have been questioned about the effectiveness of vaccines against this new variant of the virus.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, the reproduction rate, also known as the ability of an infected person to spread the virus, of the new Covid-19 variant has passed. from 1.1 to 1.5. However, she did not see this impacting the vaccines or the vaccination process.

What did the WHO say?

The WHO said people can protect themselves against the strain by following usual safety protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining social distancing. Kerkhove said in an interview with CNN on Monday that they do not foresee any impact on the vaccination due to the strain. “So far we haven’t seen any increase in disease severity or clinical picture. We also look at the body’s ability to develop antibodies. The studies are underway, ”she said.

WHO and British doctors have set up a surveillance system to study the spread of the B117 strain. According to scientists, a mutation in a virus was natural. All viruses, including the coronavirus, mutate as they replicate and are passed from human to human. “We have to work a little harder as the new Covid-19 variant spreads. These are in the presence of interventions that are put in place across England. Viruses are mutating, they are changing all the time, ”Kerkhove added.

What steps has the UK taken?

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced strict lockdown measures even during Christmas time in London and parts of southern England. Johnson urged citizens to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve indoors, as the high rate of transmissibility of the B117 strain would put the UK NHS under immense pressure if the virus did not spread.

What actions have other countries taken?

India on Monday announced the suspension of all flights from the UK to India from December 23 to 31. Those arriving before the suspension period should undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing upon arrival. The state government of Maharashtra has said all passengers from the Middle East and Europe should undergo a 15-day institutional quarantine, while those from anywhere else in the world should undergo a home quarantine.

Europe has cut off travel from Britain, with France being the first nation to ban entry to anyone coming from the UK into its borders. Soon after, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece and Russia have banned flights to and from the UK. Countries outside of Europe like India, Argentina, El Salvador, Chile, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Ecuador and Israel have also suspended flights from the UK.