Covid, South African variant, what we know so far

It is considered by experts to be “one of the worst seen”. The South African variant of the coronavirus, known as B1.1.529, is “the most discovered by the ancients,” as a senior UK health official explained at Bbc.

So far, 59 cases have been identified in South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana. Pfizer is studying this new variant, fearing it might evade the vaccine, so as to have the first results “within two weeks at the latest”. Also according to the University of Oxford, with respect to B.1.1.529, vaccines are “almost certainly” less effective. Pfizer has however made it known that “in the event that an escape variant from the vaccine emerges, Pfizer and BioNTech expect to be able to develop and produce a tailor-made vaccine against that variant in about 100 days, subject to regulatory approval “.

What is worrying is the “incredible number of Spike protein mutations», Which could increase its transmissibility and its ability to evade antibodies.

Italy has blocked arrivals of all those who, in the last 14 days, have been to South Africa, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and eSwatini. Germany and France have suspended flights from South Africa and Spain also with Botswana. The EU Commission has already announced that it will shortly propose a similar measure, already adopted yesterday by Great Britain and Israel. For now, Germany is limited to suspending flights from South Africa, as does France. Spain will also block air connections with Botswana (as well as with South Africa). In Israel, where the first case of a South African variant was identified in a citizen arriving from Malawi, the stop to flights concerns South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and eSwatini.

“I signed a new ordinance banning entry into Italy to anyone who has been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini in the last 14 days,” confirmed Health Minister Roberto Speranza. ‘Our scientists are hard at work studying the new variant B.1.1.529. Meantime we follow the road of maximum precaution“. The ordinance also provides that anyone who has been to these 8 countries and has returned to Italy must submit to the molecular swab and remain in isolation for ten days subsequent, and then perform a new swab.

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