Covid-19: Mutated South African Virus Variant Detected In UK

Mutated COVID-19 variant from South Africa found in the United Kingdom. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that the new virus is potentially more infectious variant of the coronavirus. He has also announced restrictions on travel from South Africa amid the crisis.

Matt Hancock said, “Thanks to the impressive genomic capability of the South Africans, we’ve detected two cases of another new variant of coronavirus here in the UK. Both are contacts of cases who have travelled from South Africa over the past few weeks.”

He added, “This new variant is highly concerning, because it is yet more transmissible, and it appears to have mutated further than the new variant discovered in the UK.”

World Health Organization officials said the variant is different from one identified in Britain. They further added that both variants carry a mutation that makes them more transmissible.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said, “I’ve taken the decision to temporarily stop flights and arrivals entering England from South Africa from 9 am tomorrow following an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus.”

Countries around the world have closed their borders to both Britain and South Africa. This is following the identification of the new, fast-spreading variants of the coronavirus.

The British government has imposed a 4 tier lockdown in the country following the spread of a mutated version of coronavirus that is spreading rapidly. The country grappled with another daily record of new infections at 39,237. As another 744 people died of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

Also Read: New Covid-19 strain in South Africa: Five Nations Ban Flights