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- Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says there is no evidence that the 501.V2 variant of the coronavirus is more transmissible than the variant in the UK.
- UK Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock has created the perception that the SA variant played a major role in the second wave of Covid-19 infections in the UK.
- But Mkhize says there is no evidence that the SA variant is more pathogenic than the UK variant.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says there is no evidence that the new variant of the coronavirus in South Africa is more transmissible, causes a more severe form of Covid-19, or has a higher mortality rate compared to the variant found. in the United Kingdom.
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Mkhize has criticized the UK government’s decision to ban travel between the UK and South Africa in light of the new 501.V2 variant.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock inferred this week that the new variant in South Africa was a major factor in the second wave of Covid-19 infections in the UK.
“This new variant is very concerning because it is even more transmissible and appears to have mutated more than the new variant discovered in the UK,” Hancock told a briefing on Wednesday.
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But Mkhize said Hancock’s comments were concerning, as well as growing rhetoric that the 501.V2 variant was more transmissible than the UK variant or that it could cause more serious morbidity and mortality.
“We have consulted with our genomics team who have assured us that there is currently no evidence that 501.V2 is more transmissible than the UK variant, as suggested [the] British Secretary of Health.
“There is also no evidence that 501.V2 causes more severe disease or increased mortality than the UK variant or any variant that has been sequenced around the world.
“This, as well as other factors that influence transmissibility, is the subject of further investigation with the participation of genomic researchers, epidemiologists, public health specialists, physicians, and other key stakeholders.”
The UK has banned travel from South Africa and has also asked people traveling from the country to undergo a 14-day quarantine period.
Mkhize said banning travel between the UK and South Africa was regrettable.
“It is the widely shared view of the scientific community that, given the current circumstantial evidence, the risks of travel bans may outweigh the benefits, and that it is possible to contain the variations while maintaining international travel,” he said.
Mkhize added: “There is no evidence that the SA variant is more pathogenic than the UK variant to necessitate this step.”
In addition, he noted that future research would shed light on whether the 501.V2 variant could become resistant to vaccines.
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