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New variant of the virus in England: “Christmas cannot continue as planned”
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke of a “difficult decision”
What: REUTERS
A new variant of crown could be responsible for the dramatic increase in infections in the south of England. A planned relaxation of the confinement during Christmas will no longer apply in various regions.
reUK government health official Chris Whitty has warned of a new variant of the coronavirus that will cause the pathogen to spread faster. Government pandemic advisers believe this new variant is responsible for the dramatic increase in the number in southern England, Whitty said on Saturday.
It was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). But there is no evidence that infections are more often fatal or that the virus reacts differently to vaccines or treatments, Whitty said.
Health Minister Matt Hancock had already mentioned the new variant of the virus on Monday. Whitty said health officials identified them by monitoring the genome.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced stricter measures for various regions of the country. Consequently, London and parts of south-east England will move into a category in the country’s multilevel measurement system. Relaxations that were originally planned during the Christmas period will no longer apply.
Travel to or from the region is prohibited. Johnson said: “As prime minister, it is my job to make tough decisions. (…) We cannot continue with Christmas as planned ”. Therefore, a meeting of several households is not possible in the new “level four” regions.
No choice. “We are sacrificing the opportunity to see our loved ones this Christmas to see them again next year,” Johnson said.
Originally, a so-called “Christmas bubble” was planned, in which up to three households should be able to meet during Christmas, that is, on the days of December 23-27. For the rest of England, this period has now been shortened to one day. “If the virus changes its method of attack, we will have to change our method of defense,” Johnson said. All non-essential businesses and other facilities such as gyms or hair salons must close.
Also in A new coronavirus mutation has been discovered in South Africa. The 501st V2 variant could be behind the rapid spread of the second corona wave in the country, Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said on Friday. According to South African doctors, more young people were infected during the second wave than before. They also suffered more often from a more severe course of Covid-19 lung disease.
