updated: Dec 23 2020, 08:22 ist
A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, recently emerged in the UK, sowing panic around the world. Many countries, including India, have cut off air links to the UK as a result. The new variant is up to 70% more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strains, making it more fearsome. But a lot more needs to be understood about it.
How did the world get to know about the new variant?
The first information on the existence of the new strain came from an analysis of routinely available Covid-19 genome data as part of an epidemiological investigation to probe an unexpected rise in Covid-19 cases in Southeast England. On December 14, the UK informed the World Health Organisation about the new variant, which has been named SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 (Variant Under Investigation, year 2020, month 12, variant 01).
Watch | Worst of COVID-19 May Be Over in India: Virologist Shahid Jameel
Jameel said the mutation being seen in the UK may already be present in India.
A man wearing a protective mask walks past a mural of frontline workers amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India, December 21, 2020. Photo: Reuters/Francis Mascarenhas/File photo
Video23/Dec/2020
In an interview that both strikes a note of reassurance as well as possibly ring a few alarm bells, Indiaâs top virologist has said of the COVID-19 situation in the country: âI do broadly agree the worst may be over for India.â However, Professor Shahid Jameel has also said that not only is it possible that the new mutant strain discovered in Britain âmight already be here in Indiaâ but, more importantly, âit could also have independently developed hereâ. As he explained âthe selection pressures responsible for this mutation of the virus may be here in our country as
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