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LONDON: UK scientists are investigating the impact of a new mutant variant of the coronavirus, called VUI-202012/01, on children and whether its faster transmission in parts of England is due to the younger segment of the population.
The government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (Nervtag) is monitoring data to analyze this arc of the variant, leading more than 40 countries, including India, to suspend travel to and from the Kingdom. United to try to contain the most infectious mutation.
Previous strains of coronavirus had a harder time infecting children than adults, and one explanation is that children have fewer gates called the ACE2 receptor that the virus uses to enter cells in the human body.
Professor Wendy Barclay, from Nervtag and Imperial College London, said mutations in the virus appeared to be facilitating access to those doors.
“Therefore, children are perhaps equally susceptible to this virus as adults, and therefore, given their mixing patterns, it is to be expected that more children will be infected,” he explained.
Experts don’t believe the new version is a greater threat to children’s health and the scientist behind the world’s first approved vaccine against Covid-19 has said that the Pfizer / BioNTech jabs will work against the strain, although they are being followed. doing research.
“The likelihood that our vaccine will work … is relatively high,” said Ugur Sahin, CEO of German vaccine co-developer BioNTech.
Speaking on ‘Bild TV’ in Germany, Sahin said his company would investigate the mutation in the coming days and that he viewed the matter “with a certain degree of sobriety.”
His message of confidence comes as the UK reached the milestone of half a million jabs vaccines, delivered to the elderly and the most vulnerable sections of the country’s population.
“Today I can announce that more than half a million people, more than 500,000 people in the UK, have received their first dose,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at a briefing at 10 Downing Street on Monday evening. .
“I think it is a reason for hope and confidence,” he said.
His direction came as nearly 1,500 trucks piled up at the borders as France shut down the UK amid fears of the rapidly expanding new variant. Government ministers have been working to lift the blockade, and mass testing of drivers is one option so that the flow of goods can resume and truckers can return home in time for Christmas.
“Evidence of some kind is part of the discussions the Transport Secretary is having with his counterpart in France at the moment,” said UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.
“Getting those tests up and running can happen pretty quickly, but in terms of the specifics of that, that’s something that both the transportation secretary and his counterpart will discuss,” he said.
From initial reports that the new variant is more limited to London and parts of southern England, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has now confirmed that it can be found “everywhere.” This would mean that a more national stay-at-home shutdown could be on the way to add to the millions already at level 4 restrictions and more stringent business and activity closures.
Scotland Yard issued a statement urging the public to comply with the measures, which prohibit different households from mixing to try to slow the rapid spread of the deadly virus.
“Our message is clear. Anyone who thinks that the rules are there to be violated, ignored or not applied is very wrong. The rules are that you must stay at home. It is for your safety, the safety of your family.” and friends, and the safety of their communities, ”said Commander Alex Murray, leader of the Covid Metropolitan Police.
Police forces across the UK have the authority to impose heavy fines for breaches of the rules and the most egregious cases can also lead to arrest.
The warnings come as the UK recorded a total of 33,364 daily infections on Monday, with the Covid-19 death rate rising to 67,616.
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The government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (Nervtag) is monitoring data to analyze this arc of the variant, leading more than 40 countries, including India, to suspend travel to and from the Kingdom. United to try to contain the most infectious mutation.
Previous strains of coronavirus had a harder time infecting children than adults, and one explanation is that children have fewer gates called the ACE2 receptor that the virus uses to enter cells in the human body.
Professor Wendy Barclay, from Nervtag and Imperial College London, said mutations in the virus appeared to be facilitating access to those doors.
“Therefore, children are perhaps equally susceptible to this virus as adults, and therefore, given their mixing patterns, it is to be expected that more children will be infected,” he explained.
Experts don’t believe the new version is a greater threat to children’s health and the scientist behind the world’s first approved vaccine against Covid-19 has said that the Pfizer / BioNTech jabs will work against the strain, although they are being followed. doing research.
“The likelihood that our vaccine will work … is relatively high,” said Ugur Sahin, CEO of German vaccine co-developer BioNTech.
Speaking on ‘Bild TV’ in Germany, Sahin said his company would investigate the mutation in the coming days and that he viewed the matter “with a certain degree of sobriety.”
His message of confidence comes as the UK reached the milestone of half a million jabs vaccines, delivered to the elderly and the most vulnerable sections of the country’s population.
“Today I can announce that more than half a million people, more than 500,000 people in the UK, have received their first dose,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at a briefing at 10 Downing Street on Monday evening. .
“I think it is a reason for hope and confidence,” he said.
His direction came as nearly 1,500 trucks piled up at the borders as France shut down the UK amid fears of the rapidly expanding new variant. Government ministers have been working to lift the blockade, and mass testing of drivers is one option so that the flow of goods can resume and truckers can return home in time for Christmas.
“Evidence of some kind is part of the discussions the Transport Secretary is having with his counterpart in France at the moment,” said UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.
“Getting those tests up and running can happen pretty quickly, but in terms of the specifics of that, that’s something that both the transportation secretary and his counterpart will discuss,” he said.
From initial reports that the new variant is more limited to London and parts of southern England, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has now confirmed that it can be found “everywhere.” This would mean that a more national stay-at-home shutdown could be on the way to add to the millions already at level 4 restrictions and more stringent business and activity closures.
Scotland Yard issued a statement urging the public to comply with the measures, which prohibit different households from mixing to try to slow the rapid spread of the deadly virus.
“Our message is clear. Anyone who thinks that the rules are there to be violated, ignored or not applied is very wrong. The rules are that you must stay at home. It is for your safety, the safety of your family.” and friends, and the safety of their communities, ”said Commander Alex Murray, leader of the Covid Metropolitan Police.
Police forces across the UK have the authority to impose heavy fines for breaches of the rules and the most egregious cases can also lead to arrest.
The warnings come as the UK recorded a total of 33,364 daily infections on Monday, with the Covid-19 death rate rising to 67,616.
