New coronavirus variant identified in England, health secretary says
Source: Washington Post
Britain has identified a new variant of the novel coronavirus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Monday, noting that it may be associated with the faster spread in the south of England.
Officials have linked more than 1,000 cases to the variant, according to an initial analysis, and numbers are increasing rapidly, Hancock said.
I must stress at this point that there is currently nothing to suggest that this variant is more likely to cause serious disease, and the latest clinical advice is that its highly unlikely that this mutation would fail to respond to a vaccine, he said. But it shows weve got to be vigilant and follow the rules and everyone needs to take personal responsibility not to spread this virus.
Hancocks announcement comes days after the first Brits were inoculated with vaccines to counter the virus.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/14/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/
2020 ain't over yet.
Harker
(17,785 posts)Feels like it already has.
My Pet Orangutan
(12,598 posts)Delphinus
(12,522 posts)that was an interesting ad.
Harker
(17,785 posts)durablend
(9,269 posts)
Harker
(17,785 posts)bronxiteforever
(11,212 posts)NickB79
(20,356 posts)Which, while not directly more lethal, increased the number of people infected when exposed.
Worried2020
(444 posts).
.
But too many of us still wanna go out and party . . . . .
(sigh)

W
Initech
(108,783 posts)
a la izquierda
(12,336 posts)I'm living in Essex, but in one of the places that will remain in Tier 2. I'd planned to return to the US for Christmas, but there's no way I'm even considering that. I'd hoped to go into London Friday just to see the lights (planned to drive in), now that's not an option.
Oh well. My best friend here is a nursing student, and I worry about her daily. Hopefully the vaccine rolls out quickly. I'd like to not worry about my friends and family every day.