London, Thanassis Gavos
World Health Organization scientists will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the new mutation found in African countries to discuss the impact it will have on existing vaccines and treatments.
Last night, the British government decided to impose travel restrictions on six South African countries due to concerns about the new variant of the coronavirus B.1.1529.
Health Minister Sajid Javid announced via Twitter that the UK Health and Safety Agency is investigating the new mutation that was originally found in Botswana.
“More information is needed, but we are taking precautionary measures now. “Six African countries will be added to the red list, flights will be temporarily banned and British travelers will have to be quarantined,” Mr Javid wrote.
He said: “Our scientists are deeply concerned about this variant”, as it may be more contagious than the prevailing Delta variant and warned that “the vaccines we currently have may be less effective”.
Flights to the UK from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from 12 noon local time on Friday and from 4 am on Sunday for Britons traveling from there countries must be quarantined for ten days at a default hotel.
Those in the United Kingdom who have traveled from these countries in the last ten days are invited to undergo a molecular diagnostic test.
According to scientists, the variant carries more than 30 mutations, which makes it theoretically more contagious and more resistant to vaccines.
The UK Health and Safety Service said the variant was “the worst ever detected”, with the spike protein used by the coronavirus to penetrate the human body being “dramatically” different from that of the original strain of the virus.
A total of 59 cases have been confirmed in Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong, resulting in travelers from South Africa.
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