New South African Coronavirus Variant Found in UK

The discovery of new coronavirus variants has taken a new turn. Now, a new variant of the novel coronavirus with links to South Africa has been identified. Experts have warned the country to be facing a much larger second wave as two cases of the South African variant have come into light.

UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, addressing a briefing expressed that both cases of the new variant are contacts of cases who have travelled from South Africa over the past few weeks. The new South African variant is highly worrisome because it is yet more transmissible. Also it seems to have mutated further than the new UK coronavirus variant recently discovered.

It is to be noted that with the news of South African variant identification, immediate restrictions on travel from South Africa have been exercised. The Government has asked people in close contact with the new variant patients or who have been in South Africa to immediately quarantine.

As of now, the new mutant strain and its trajectory in the UK are being analysed.

After the briefing, more parts of the country are to be put under the strictest level of lockdown. On Wednesday, the UK registered 36,804 positive coronavirus cases, which is the largest daily number of infections recorded at any point of time during the pandemic.

Matt Hancock also stated that from December 26, the southern part of England would also undergo the highest level of restrictions on social level. The minister also revealed that a full data package for regulatory approval has been received from the Oxford University vaccine being produced by AstraZeneca while the Pfizer BioNTech vaccines are on rollout.