British Prime Minister Johnson said Friday that data show that the British variant of the virus, which has emerged in more than 60 countries, not only spreads at a higher rate than the old virus, but is also more deadly. However, the two vaccines being used in Britain are effective against the Variant virus.
Johnson said at a press conference Friday evening that some of the preliminary evidence suggests that the variant of the virus found in London and southeast England, in addition to spreading faster, may also be more lethal than the old virus. He said evidence now shows that the two vaccines being used in the United Kingdom are effective against both the old and Variant viruses. Johnson also said that the authorities are taking the right steps to fight the variant virus.
AFP also quoted Patrick Vallance, the British government’s chief scientific adviser, as saying that there were 13 to 14 deaths per 1,000 people infected with the variant virus in the 60-year-old age group, compared with 10 deaths per 1,000 people infected with the old new coronavirus.
Previous studies have shown that the transmission rate of the variant virus in the United Kingdom is 30 to 70 percent higher than that of the old virus. The results were found by the UK government’s Novel and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (NERVTAG), but all evidence is still in the early stages.
There are currently three variants of the virus of concern in the UK, including the one found in Kent in September last year, which is the most circulating variant in England and Northern Ireland and has now been found in over 50 countries; the second is the South African variant and the third is the Brazilian variant. The Kent variant is now known to spread faster than the older virus and is not ethnic-specific, with “people of all ages being infected.
There is still a lot of uncertainty about these numbers, and we must do more research, Vallance said. But the increased mortality and transmission rates are clearly worthy of attention. Valance also said that clinical evidence shows that the vaccine is effective against both the old virus and the British variant, “which is good news. But he also said the response of the South African and Brazilian variants of the virus to the vaccine remains a concern.
Johnson said there are now 38,000 confirmed patients in hospital in England, 78 percent higher than at the peak of the first wave of the outbreak. The National health Service (NHS) is under heavy pressure and he urged people to comply with the ban.
The British government previously announced an increase in fines for violators, if the violation of the party for more than 15 people, will be issued a fine of £ 800, which can accumulate to £ 6,400. Those who host illegal parties for more than 30 people can be fined 10,000 pounds. In the UK, there were 40,261 new confirmed cases and 1,401 new deaths on Friday. The cumulative number of deaths has reached 95,981.
A total of 5.38 million people across the UK have been vaccinated with the new crown vaccine, nearly 410,000 of whom were vaccinated in the last 24 hours, a new high for the number of vaccinations given in a single day.
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