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There is no evidence that the new strain of coronavirus is more resistant to vaccines. At least that appears to be what scientists have told British ministers, according to a New York Times article.
This virus mutation, which appeared in Britain, is not considered common and is known as VUI 202012/01. Although it has been found in other countries, such as South Africa, the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia, experts raise the alarm not so much because of its danger, but because of the fact that it is transmitted much faster.
In practice, faster spread of the virus means more infections, more hospitalizations, and ultimately more deaths. Thus, the new mutation of the coronavirus, detected in Great Britain, has put Europe on alert and some countries have already begun to ban travel.
Most new infections of the mutant strain
“When the virus changes the method it attacks, then we have to change the way we defend ourselves,” Johnson said, announcing a type 4 lockdown in London and south-east England. “We have to act on the information we have, because it is transmitted very quickly,” he added.
It is very worrying that more than 60% of new infections in London come from the new strain.
Some scientists have cautioned that experiments and laboratory analysis must be performed to see for sure if the new strain is more contagious or if its dominance is due to other factors.
Preliminary research has shown that the new strain of the virus is spreading so fast in Britain that it has eliminated other strains of the virus. According to experts, this wide spread is due to new mutations in the coronavirus.
The rate of new cases in the UK has doubled in less than two weeks, far outpacing the rest of Western Europe.
And in South Africa, the other strain, which bears many similarities to Britain’s, has caused 80-90% of new infections in the country, sparking a second explosive wave.
Large number of mutations in the new strain
According to Britain’s leading infectious disease specialist, Patrick Valance, scientists have identified 23 mutations in the new strain of the virus, an unusually large number.
Most mutations involve the protein spike with which the virus “attaches itself” to the cells of our body and infects them, which can increase their transmissibility.
Infectious disease specialists warn that a new round of very strict measures will be needed to limit the virus and its mutations.
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