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As we come to terms with news of the COVID-19 variant discovered in the United Kingdom, another potentially more infectious variant identified in South Africa has now spread waves of concern across the world.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Wednesday that two cases of the new variant have been identified in the country - both contacts of people who travelled to South Africa.
Here’s what we know.
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What s Happening?
South Africa saw its first COVID peak in July and August, after which cases started to fall considerably. However, things changed drastically as the number of people infected began to rise steeply at the beginning of December.
New Covid strain was spotted in South Africa thetimes.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetimes.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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COVID-19: UK Detects 2 Cases Of South Africa s Virus Strain, All Direct Flights Banned
Effective 9 am today, December 24, those coming to England who has transited or had been to South Africa in the last 10 days will not be allowed to enter.
UK health secretary, Matt Hancock announced on December 23 that UK has identified a second ‘more transmissible’ COVID-19 variant linked to South Africa that is spreading at a dangerous rate, just as the tiering system was put in place to control the first new variant. At least two cases in London and North West England who were diagnosed positive to the coronavirus’ second new variant were put under quarantine. Both the patients had travelled from South Africa over the last few weeks, the health secretary said at the Downing Street conference.
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Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta
Nigerians are in for a low-key Christmas celebration tomorrow as states yesterday rolled out measures to tackle the resurgence of COVID-19.
Some of the measures such as restrictions on religious gathering, social activities and suspension of street carnivals that usually characterise the celebration pre-COVID era, will take the shine off this year’s event.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has also ordered the closure of night clubs, pubs and other super spreader events for five weeks to tame the resurgence.
Britain locks down South Africans as mutant Covid-19 SA strain enters UK
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced strict quarantine measures for individuals with any recent links to South Africa as it emerges that at least two cases of a South African variant of Covid-19 have been identified in the UK. Travel to and from SA is being halted. However, Hancock thanked the South African government for its co-operation and highlighted the expertise of South African scientists for their work on the genomic sequencing of Covid-19. More on the mutant strain in this week’s Inside Covid-19 podcast, which features an in-depth interview one of the scientists who works for Krisp, the University of KwaZulu-Natal centre praised by Hancock. Scroll down for the link. – Jackie Cameron