last week, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified in parts of London and southeast England where Covid-19 cases were surging. According to the Covid-19 Genomics UK(COG-UK Consortium) that sequenced the genome data of the virus and identified it, the new variant has been spreading "rapidly" over the last four weeks and has now been detected in other parts of the United Kingdom.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently said the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 could be up to 70 percent more transmissible than other variants. This prompted several countries to impose limited or complete travel bans for the UK.
Scientists around the world are racing to assess the danger posed by a new variant of the coronavirus that spread rapidly in Britain as more countries shut their borders to travelers from the U.K in the effort it out.
Explaining the basis of virus mutations:
Viruses are continuously changing as a result of genetic selection. They undergo subtle genetic changes through mutation and major genetic changes through recombinations mutation occur when an error is incorporated in the viral genome.
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| covid mutation |
The UK Variant:
In early December, scientists in the United Kingdom studying Covid-19 observed a sudden spike in cases in parts of the country. They got concerned when genomic analysis revealed a new SARS-CoV-2 variant with many mutations occurring together. Concern caused alarm when they realized that over half of the new cases in that area were caused by the new variant. This variant has been named SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 (THE FIRST 'Variant of Concern' in December 2020) and is also called B.1.1.7
The names VOC 202012/01, B.1.1.7, and Uk variant are used interchangeably in the media and refer to the same SARS-CoV-2 variant. The UK variant is characterized by 23 mutations, an unusually large number of mutations, and several of these mutations have resulted in changes in the S protein.
Scientists are particularly concerned about mutations changing the amino acids in the spike protein in a way that changes the S Protein's function. N501Y ( a change at position 501 of the spike protein) and Spike deletion 69/70del ( a double deletion at position 69 and 70 of the spike protein) are thought to increase transmissibility and impact molecular tests for Covid-19; studies are underway to determine if there's any impact on immunity.
Tier 4 lockdown in London:
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| A new strain of coronavirus in the UK. |
About 21 million people entered full lockdown restrictions in London, southeast and easter England and Wales Sunday to curb the spread of a highly infectious new strain of COVID-19
Will COVID-19 vaccines work against new strain or mutant coronavirus?
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has assured that there is no evidence that suggests that the COVID-19 vaccines will be less effective against the new coronavirus strain. Britain's Chief Scientific Adviser Patric Vallance has backed the PM's assurance saying that the COVID-19 vaccines appeared to be adequate in initiating an immune response to the new mutant strain of the coronavirus.
Experts have not been able to find any reason which suggests that a new mutation would affect the COVID-19 vaccination process yet.
The UK government's advisor body, New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NNERVTAG) has released a paper to explain the effect of the vaccine ib the new mutant coronavirus strain. "We are not seeing any increased virulence [clinical severity] or any gross changes in the S[spike protein] that will reduce vaccine effectiveness--so far, " said Dr. Julian Tang, Honorary Associate Professor/Clinical VIrologist, University of Leicester, in response to the NERVTAG paper.
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covid-19 new strain.
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Israel to speed up Covid-19 vaccination owing to new strain:
The Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Israel will speed up to 24/7 format after the country registered fresh confirmed cases with a new strain of the novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Health has announced.
In a statement on Thursday night, the Ministry said that Health Minister Yuli Edelstein has decided to dramatically speed up the campaign, which began on Sunday, aiming to reach more than 100,000 vaccines a day, reports Xinhua news agency.
The announcement came hours after a joint statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Health said that the government has decided to impose a full nationwide lockdown, the third of its kind since the onset of the pandemic, from 5 p.m on Sunday.
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