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The number of infected and dead in South Africa has skyrocketed during December. The figures are close to the level of early August, when the peak of the country’s first wave was reached.
The South Africans were given three months of relative peace before the infection began to grow again. The country’s authorities believe that growth is driven by the new variant of the virus.
From 80 to 90 percent of those infected in the country now have this virus, report the country’s health authorities.
STOPPING THE TEARS: An emotional South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, spoke to people on Monday night.
Photo: SABC
501Y.V2
The new variant in South Africa, like the new variant in English, has a number of changes. The two have been named for a special change to the protruding labels of the virus. This change has the technical name 501Y, and both variants do.
It is a change that is associated with a faster spread of the infection, but which alone should not cause it.
The English variant has been named 501Y.V1 and the South African 501Y.V2. They are not exactly the same and belong to two different branches of development. What they have in common is that they are very different from their closest relative.
They are like two cousins who don’t look like anyone else in the family.
South African researchers say their variant is even more contagious than the English one. It has not been proven, nor is it likely, with in-depth analysis of the virus structure.
DOMINATES: Between 80 and 90 percent of all positive samples in South Africa contain the new variant of the virus.
Photo: Denis Farrell / AP
I do not know why
Researchers cannot point to any individual characteristics of the two variants as evidence that they are more contagious. They believe it is the combination of two or more of the many changes that make it.
They have also not been shown to be more contagious. It is simply probable.
What the virus variants do is also unknown. There are a myriad of possible mechanisms and the answer may be that there are combinations of them. Here are some of the possible ones:
- Variants of the virus prolong the period when it is contagious, but not sick. Then there are more “hidden” infections.
- They stick more easily to cells and then less virus is required to transmit from person to person.
- It makes it produce many more viruses, and then more viruses come out that can infect others.
- It is more easily transmitted to and from children, and then they become more conductive in the pandemic.
New measures
What will be daily life in much of the country was described by the South African president in a speech Monday night.
- Extended door ban.
- The ban on the sale of alcohol is reintroduced.
- Bars, beaches and much more are closed.
- Prohibition of collecting both indoors and outdoors.
- Mandate for the use of masks in public places.
– We all want our lives to start over. We all have plans, hopes and dreams for 2021, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as he struggled to hold back tears.
He concentrated and continued:
– Perhaps the biggest dream is the simplest. We want the new year to bring better health, stability, and progress for ourselves and our families. We want it to be better than last year, because it has been a terrible year, the president said.
CLOSING: Store closed in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. Authorities believe parts of the population forget infection control if they drink alcohol, so all outlets in the country are closed as of Tuesday.
Photo: Guillem Sartorio / AFP
