Although Sars-CoV-2 mutations have been reported in recent months in various parts of the world, the VUI-202012/01 variant tracked in the UK has raised concern. At a press conference, Prime Minister Johnson said preliminary data shows that it is 70% more transmittable.
The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (Nervtag), a committee of experts from the UK Department of Health and Welfare, concluded in its report that it has “moderate confidence that VUI-202012/01 demonstrates an increase substantial in transmissibility compared to other variants. “UK Government Medical Director Chris Whitty was also quoted by The Guardian,” Nervtag now believes that the new strain may spread more rapidly. We have alerted the World Organization of Health and we continue to analyze the available data to improve our understanding. “
Britain’s European neighbors began closing their doors to travelers from the UK amid the alarm over a rapidly spreading strain of coronavirus that has caused cases to skyrocket there. France said it would ban all people coming from the UK for 48 hours starting Sunday night, including freight carriers, whether by road, air, sea or rail. Germany, Italy and the Netherlands ordered the suspension of flights from Britain, while Ireland said it would impose restrictions on its neighbor’s flights and ferries.
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