The United Kingdom said on Friday that a newly identified coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa was of huge concern and was considered by scientists to be the most significant one yet found as it could make vaccines less effective.
The UK Health Security Agency said that the variant – called B.1.1.529 – has a spike protein that was dramatically different to the one in the original coronavirus that COVID-19 vaccines are based on.
The variant has also been found in Botswana and Hong Kong, and Britain has banned flights from South Africa and five neighbouring countries.
“There are no detected cases of this variant in the UK at this time. But this new variant is of huge international concern,” Javid told lawmakers.
He said the first sequence of the variant was uploaded by Hong Kong from the case of a traveller from South Africa.
“The UK was the first country to identify the potential threat of this new variant and to alert international partners. Further cases have been identified in South Africa and in Botswana, and it is highly likely that it has now spread to other countries.”
Officials have advised the government on the need to act swiftly and pre-emptively in case the concerns over the impact of the variant are borne out, even though it could take weeks to generate all the information needed about its characteristics.
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Netanyahu, Gallant And Al-Masri
Russia Fires Intercontinental Missile In Ukraine Attack — Kyiv
South African Police Raid Warehouses Amid Food Poisoning Deaths
Russian Missile Strike Kills Eight, Wounds 39 In Ukraine’s Odesa Region