Coronaviruses are almost guaranteed to mutate each year as does the Flu virus which requires a new annual vaccine. Sars-Cov-2 has also been identified to behave in the same way.
- 1,000 cases of new strain confirmed
- London, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire move to Tier 3 restrictions
- Mayor Sadiq Khan calls for early school closures
- GPs to receive Pfizer vaccine in over 100 locations across UK
Health secretary Matt Hancock says he believes there is no evidence to suggest the new vaccine is ineffective against it. He went on to say during a Q&A in Parliament that he will know more about its make-up as the new strain is cultured at Porton Down.
“Over the last few days, thanks to our world-class genomic capability in the UK, we have identified a new variant of coronavirus which may be associated with the faster spread in the South of England”…”Initial analysis suggests this variant is growing faster than the existing variants.
“We’ve currently identified over 1,000 cases with this variant, predominantly in the south of England, although cases have been identified in nearly 60 different local authority areas and numbers have been increasing rapidly.”
It is understood that the new strain may be the cause of recent surges in London, which has now been placed in Tier 3, the highest possible of lockdown restrictions.
Mr Hancock also suggested the new strain is no more infectious or deadly maintaining that the Sars-Cov-2 vaccine is still effective.
Stanisland Magazine 