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The new variant of the coronavirus means that British Prime Minister Boris Johnsen is now drastically tightening up. No one in the affected areas can celebrate Christmas with anyone outside their home.
– The new coronavirus variant has not been proven to cause more serious disease, but it is likely to spread faster than previous variants. It can be up to 70 percent more contagious, says Boris Johnson at a news conference Saturday afternoon.
Therefore the UK is introducing level four restrictions in some parts of the country, in London and in the south east and east of England.
The measures will take effect on Sunday.
This means that the inhabitants of these areas:
- must stay homestay home order)
- Avoid unnecessary stores
- They must work from home if they can, but can travel if necessary.
- do not stay to spend the night with others
- must avoid entering or exiting level four areas
- travel abroad is not allowed, with some exceptions
The new variant has 23 different changes, says Patrick Vallance in the health authorities, adding that the changes do not appear to affect the vaccine.
FHI: not available in Norway
Section leader Karoline Bragstad at FHI says they haven’t seen this variant in Norway:
– This virus is very special. None of the viruses we have analyzed in Norway has this variant. We don’t think we have it here, he tells VG.
He adds that they follow developments more closely and stay up-to-date with information from the UK.
What is special about this virus is that it has many more changes throughout the virus genome. There are especially many changes in the surface protein, according to Bragstad.
Strict Christmas rules
In the affected areas of England, it is permissible or not to spend the night with other people and you can only meet a person outside the home if the meeting takes place in public.
“Those in level four areas cannot go abroad, with the exception of some cases,” Johnson continues.
In London and the south-eastern parts of the country that are also at level 4, no one can meet anyone outside the home on Christmas.
– I know how disappointing this is. But when knowledge changes, we must act accordingly, Johnsen says.
In addition, it encourages everyone who is offered to take the vaccine, which has now been implemented in the country.
For the rest of the country, three households can meet on Christmas Day (December 25), but not on other days.
