[ad_1]
Topline
A study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that the new coronavirus mutation spreading in the UK is more than 50% more contagious, less than the figure that floated the government when it instituted severe lockdowns last week past, but still enough to drastically worsen the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the researchers suggest.
A man wearing a face mask passes the “London Eye” along the River Thames in London, Great Britain, in … [+]
Xinhua News Agency / Getty Images
Key facts
The study (which has not been peer-reviewed) suggests that the new variant of the coronavirus is about 56% more transmissible than previously existing strains.
Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it could have been up to 70% more infectious when he used the strain as a factor to put London and much of southern England under new coronavirus restrictions.
While scientists believe the transmissibility of the strain is not that high, they note that the mutation will likely cause far more hospitalizations and deaths next year than the country experienced in 2020.
However, the researchers maintain that there is no evidence yet to suggest that the new strain is more dangerous, deadly or resistant to coronavirus vaccines.
The scientists behind the study said the regional closures the UK has put in place are unlikely to reduce the spread of the virus enough to meet the government’s targets, unless they also close schools and universities.
Key Background
The new, more infectious strain of coronavirus is said to be a major factor behind the UK spike in new cases and deaths attributed to the virus this week. On Wednesday, the country reported nearly 40,000 new daily cases of the coronavirus, the highest number seen in the entire pandemic, along with the highest number of deaths seen in a single 24-hour period since late April. Dozens of countries have banned travelers from Britain in response to the new strain of coronavirus. In total, the UK has tallied 2.1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 70,000 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker, making it one of the worst-hit countries in Europe by the pandemic.
Other readings
Here’s what you need to know about England’s new Covid-19 variant (Forbes)
The UK breaks the daily record for coronavirus cases amid panic over a new strain of virus (Forbes)
The United States has no plans for a travel ban to the United Kingdom, as the new Covid-19 strain prompts more than 40 countries to stop arrivals from Great Britain (Forbes)
Full coverage and live updates on Coronavirus
