Amid concerns about new coronavirus mutants found in the UK and the rest of the world to close their doors on the UK, another variant has now been found that has links to South Africa.
So far we know the following about the South African variant
1. Two cases of this new category have been identified in the UK, as confirmed by UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
2. Both have come into contact with those who have traveled from South Africa in the past few weeks.
3. South Africa discovered the mutation earlier. It was reported last week that scientists found a new genetic mutation that could be responsible for the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in South Africa.
4. This South African variant is more transferable than the British variant, said the British Minister of Health, as this variant has mutated further than the British variant.
5. The variant was designated as 501.V2, announced the South African Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize on Twitter.
6. Younger people without comorbidities will be infected by the new variant, as South Africa has found. “Clinicians have provided anecdotal evidence of a shift in the clinical epidemiological picture – particularly with the finding that they are seeing a greater proportion of younger patients with no comorbidities with critical illness,” said Zweli Mkhize.
7. The new variant was discovered through routine monitoring by laboratories in South Africa. Originally, the variant was limited to coastal regions, but has now reached the interior.
8. Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel and Mauritius have banned flights from South Africa.
9. The South African variant may allow the virus to attach to and penetrate cells better than previous variants, which is why the transmission rate is higher, scientists told The Guardian.
10. South Africa reported a sudden surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in January. It is believed that the new variant is the reason for this.