LONDON
: A new, potentially more infectious variant of the novel
coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has been found in
Britain
in cases linked to
South Africa
, British health secretary Matt Hancock said on Wednesday.
South Africa’s health department said last week that a new genetic mutation of the virus had been discovered and might be responsible for a recent surge in infections there. “We’ve detected two cases of another new variant of coronavirus here in the UK. Both are contacts of cases who have travelled from South Africa over the past few weeks,” Hancock told a media briefing.
Britain is already trying to curb the spread of a mutated strain of the virus which is up to 70% more transmissible, and further studies aerie being carried out on the new variant.
Follow TOI's live blog for latest updates on Coronavirus“This new variant is highly concerning, because it is yet more transmissible, and it appears to have mutated further than the new variant discovered in the UK,” Hancock said. Close contacts of those with the new variant and all those who have been in South Africa in the last fortnight, or were in close contact with someone who had, must quarantine, he said. Immediate curbs were being imposed on travel from South Africa.
Hancock also said that from December 26, many more parts of southern England would be also be added to the highest level of social restrictions, joining the 16 million already in Tier 4, while other areas currently in lower tiers would also face tighter curbs.
He said the move was required to control the spread of UK virus variant that is pushing the number of cases to a record level. Britain on Wednesday reported almost 40,000 new cases and 744 deaths — the highest figures since April.