01-02-2021, 01:17 PM
(12-14-2020, 07:56 PM)Charon Wrote: A new strain of COVID-19 has been identified in the UK.
It could be fueling the “very sharp” spike in coronavirus cases in south-east England, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
A report from on the ground...
The UK is really into testing genomes so if anywhere was going to spot a variant it would be the UK. There is no data on whether it mutated in the UK or elsewhere and then really got going in London and South-East England. But the short story is there was a lockdown and yet the cases didn't drop as they'd expect, so something else was happening.
The mutation makes it easier to catch, but no evidence it is more dangerous once you have it. It's thought to be 55 - 70% transmissible, so a bit less than twice as transmissible. This raises interesting questions about whether the safety rules we have been taught in the UK, such as staying 2 metres away from other people will still apply... might it need to be 3m?
BTW I know vaccines are contentious for some people on this forum, and I'm not trying to start that debate here. Just let me just point out vaccination in the UK is totally optional. I shall jump at the chance when my opportunity comes.
As for whether the mutation will require a different vaccine, it is thought not to be a problem yet. However it will almost certainly escape the vaccines at some point. Fortunately some of the designs are easily adjusted to combat a future strain.
Stay safe my friends.