Just when we thought that the COVID-19 pandemic may soon be behind us, a new strain of the novel coronavirus has been reported in the UK. The strain has caused thousands of infections already and has become a concern globally. Even as vaccinations begin in various parts of the world, including the country where the strain has been reported from, this is not the first time that mutations in the coronavirus have been reported. The new variant is being called VUI-202012/01 – the first “Variant Under Investigation” in the UK in December 2020. Even as scientists hunt for more information about the variant, its impact is already being felt – the mutation has been linked to a recent surge in cases in the UK, and several countries have imposed restrictions on travellers from the UK.
On Monday India suspended all flights from and to the UK until December 31, amid concerns about a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that is “spreading & growing rapidly” there. Several other countries, too, have suspended UK flights and imposed travel restrictions. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently said that the new strain of coronavirus could be “up to 70 per cent more transmissible”. Countries including Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Jordan, France, Hong Kong and others have suspended travel for the UK. The international flyers from the UK who arrived in India between November 25 and December 8 will be contacted by district surveillance officers and advised to self-monitor their health. If anyone among them develops symptoms, he/she will undergo an RT-PCR test.
According to experts, the new strain of the coronavirus is not likely to affect vaccines and treatments. However, experts are urgently looking into it to understand the changes. Previously, when a mutated strain was reported in Malaysia, it was found that most people around the world were infected with that strain, and therefore, it was unlikely to affect vaccine development. According to a report in news agency AFP, Moncef Slaoui, chief advisor to the Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, said that he expected that lab experiments would show the new strain would respond to existing vaccines and treatments.
