[ad_1]
 |
|
| ▲ BBC catches reporting the emergence of a new crown 19 strain in the UK. | |
| Ⓒ BBC |
See related photos |
Another strain has been identified in the UK, where the number of infections is increasing rapidly due to the new strain of coronavirus (Corona 19).
According to major foreign media such as AP and BBC, on the 23rd (local time), the British government announced that two new confirmed cases were recently infected with the corona 19 strain discovered in South Africa. They were found infected while traveling to South Africa.
The South African government announced on the 18th that a new variant of the Corona 19 virus, dubbed ‘variant 501.V2’, had been discovered.
British Health Minister Matt Hancock told a news conference today that “the situation is very worrying” and “it appears that the recently identified variant of the virus is more mutated than the variant of the virus found in Britain.”
He added that the two viruses found in Britain and South Africa have similar shapes, but have evolved separately.
He explained: “It is understood that both viruses have a much stronger transmission power than existing viruses.” The UK immediately restricted travel to South Africa, emphasizing that anyone traveling to or in contact with South Africa in the past 14 days should immediately go into quarantine.
More than 50 countries around the world, including Korea, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, have stepped up entry restrictions to the UK, either in whole or in part, to prevent the influx of the virus. In addition, entry restrictions into South Africa are increasing.
Earlier in the UK, when a variant of the virus called ‘VUI-202012/01’ appeared, the number of new confirmed cases is increasing across the country.
According to UK health officials, the virus does not cause more serious illness or increase mortality, but it is more than 70% stronger than the existing virus and is particularly susceptible in children.
The number of new confirmed cases in the UK on this day was 39,237, which was a record 36.84 in one day.
Accordingly, the UK has designated several areas in South East England, such as Sussex, Suffolk and Hampshire, as the fourth stage of response to Corona 19, after London and neighboring areas. Originally, it was divided into 1 ~ 3 stages, but with the appearance of variant virus, a higher stage 4 was recently established.
In the area designated as stage 4, all non-essential industries, such as gyms and beauty salons, must be closed and going outside is prohibited except for reasons such as work, school, and childcare.
Furthermore, vaccination is expanding. The BBC reported that the British government will soon approve the COVID-19 vaccine developed jointly by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. Secretary Hancock also said that AstraZeneca has submitted all clinical trial data to health authorities for approval of the vaccine.
“The best hope at this difficult time is, of course, a vaccine,” he said. “The power of science is helping to get out of all this.”
