Amid concerns about the novel Coronavirus mutant found in the UK and the rest of the world that subsequently rushed to close its doors to Britain, another variant has now been found, which has ties to South Africa.
Here’s what we know so far about the South African variant
1. In the United Kingdom two cases belonging to this new category have been detected, has confirmed the British Secretary of Health Matt Hancock.
2. You have both contacted those who have traveled from South Africa in recent weeks.
3. South Africa had detected the mutation before. It reported last week that scientists have found a new genetic mutation that could be responsible for the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in South Africa.
4. This South African variant is more transmissible than the UK variant, said the British health secretary, as this variant has mutated more than the UK variant.
5. The variant has been named 501.V2, South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Twitter.
6. South Africa has found that the new strain is infecting younger people without comorbidities. “Clinicians have been providing anecdotal evidence of a change in the clinical epidemiological picture, in particular noting that they are seeing a higher proportion of younger patients with no comorbidities presenting with critical illness,” said Zweli Mkhize.
7. The new variant was discovered through routine surveillance in South African laboratories. Initially, the variant was limited to coastal regions, but has now moved inland.
8. Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel and Mauritius have banned flights from South Africa.
9. The South African variant may allow the virus to bind to cells and pass better than previous variants, which is why the transmission rate is higher, scientists told The Guardian.
10. South Africa reported a sudden increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in January. The new variant is believed to be the reason behind.
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