Information about new strains of corona virus in the UK with higher than normal levels of infection is worrying many countries. Viruses evolved naturally by infecting the community. Some viruses have a higher ability to change than usual. This is also the reason that some countries need a new flu shot every year.
This phenomenon has been noted many times since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out almost a year ago in China. The latest strain recently discovered in the UK is of particular concern. Scientists have not yet been able to determine how likely this strain will affect current vaccine dissemination efforts.
The new strain in the UK was discovered since September in the southeastern regions of the country and has mainly spread in the region. British and US health experts say the new variant of the corona virus is more infectious than before, but has found no evidence of increased toxicity.
On December 19, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a series of strict restrictions on the population to deal with a new strain of corona virus.
Some European countries have begun to ban or limit flights from the UK to reduce the risk of the new strain spreading. According to Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser to the UK government, the new strain is "spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant strain", causing more than 60% of cases in London as of December. Matt Hancock said the situation is extremely serious when the newly discovered coronavirus in this country is spreading "out of control".
Another worrying feature of this strain is that it has 20 more mutations than the "original version" of the corona virus. Some of the mutations are in protein spikes, which are targeted in the way the vaccine works.
Geneticist in Seattle, "there is growing evidence" that the corona virus is mutating proteins to resist or counteract the human immune system. He noted that the "emergence and spread of a number of strains" demonstrates this. Some corona virus strains are also resistant to antibody therapy.
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor to the US government on vaccine distribution Covid-19, rated the likelihood of a strain resistant to already developed vaccines very low, but "it is not non-existent. in". "The strain in the UK may not be able to escape the immune system through the vaccine," he said.
More than 30 countries closed to the UK because of a variant of the corona virus
Worries about a new strain of the virus in the UK increased on December 21 when more than 30 countries banned entry to people from the country, halting flights and commercial activities.
Britain was almost disconnected from the rest of Europe. Concern became clear when London and the European Union (EU) had only 10 days before the deadline for a post-Brexit trade deal.
The situation sparked fear of shopping panic in UK supermarkets. Concerned about the rise in new infections and the hasty blockade in much of the country, the British now have to consider running out of fresh food in the days before Christmas.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on December 19 said the corona virus strain was shown to be 70% more contagious than other strains. The numbers are only model-based estimates and UK officials say there is no reason to confirm the new strain causes more serious disease.
But the statistics have raised alarm around the world. France has imposed a 48-hour moratorium on the carriage of goods through the English Channel. The move left thousands of drivers trapped in trucks on December 21, while the roads leading to British ports were turned into parking lots.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands and many other countries have announced travel restrictions. Passengers flying from the UK to Germany were detained at the airports on the night of December 20. Poland said it would suspend flights between the two countries starting December 21.
Meanwhile, Spain announced that only citizens and permanent residents of this country are allowed to fly to from the UK. The country also conducted stricter border checks with Gibraltar, a British territory located at the southernmost tip of Spain.
Greece has extended the quarantine period to 10 days for people flying from the UK, one day after it was raised to 7 days, but has not suspended flights.
On December 21, Hong Kong closed its border to UK arrivals, saying all passenger flights from the country would be banned starting at midnight. The ban will be extended for the first time to Hong Kong residents. Canada, India, Iran and Russia have also enacted new restrictions.
Basically, Israel will close the skies to most foreign citizens from the afternoon of December 23rd. Saudi Arabia goes even harder, announcing a one-week ban on all international routes. Kuwait on the evening of December 21, suspended all commercial flights with foreign countries and closed its land and sea border until January 1.
In the US, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation's leading expert on infectious diseases, said he would advise against suspending flights from Britain, but officials should closely monitor the strain. "Watch it carefully, but don't overreact to it," he said.
The new strain, first discovered a few months ago, spread in southeast England and has also been identified in small numbers in Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia, according to Health Organization officials. gender.