There is no evidence that the new Covid strain is more lethal or can cause more serious disease, nor that the vaccine is less effective. The fact is that, as a precaution, Italy has also decided to block flights with the United Kingdom after Holland and Belgium, a list to which France and Spain could also be added in the next few hours.
«The United Kingdom has raised the alarm about a new form of Covid that would be the result of a mutation of the virus. As a government we have a duty to protect the Italians, ”announced the foreign minister Luigi di Maio. “For this reason, after having notified the British Government, with the Ministry of Health we are about to sign the measure to suspend flights with Great Britain».
The new variant of the Coronavirus identified in the South-East of Great Britain, called VUI202012 / 01, awould have a higher contagiousness rate than the original virus up to 70%. Several cases are asymptomatic and the new strain is spreading ‘very rapidly’ to the point that it currently accounts for 60% of cases found in London.
This new variant, explained Patrick Vallance, the scientific director of the British government, contains 23 different changes, many of them associated with the Spike protein produced by the virus, known to be instrumental in the process in which it binds and enters cells.
«It seems more contagious, meaning that it is more easily transmitted from one individual to another, but not more aggressive or lethal. These are obviously hypotheses that will be confirmed by studies still in progress. It is not the first mutation that is described in the world and it will not even be the last, “he explains in the meantime through a post on Facebook Matteo Bassetti, director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the San Martino Hospital in Genoa, about the new variant of coronavirus that is spreading in England. Similar mutations had already been described in Spain and other countries.
“Viruses are constantly mutating. It is their way of life: change to survive. Vaccines already approved or still under study will work the same as the vaccines make our body produce antibodies against many parts of the spike protein and the mutation described only affects a small part. Therefore no panic. We monitor, study and continue with the vaccine plan “, ensures the infectious disease specialist, also adding that” It cannot be excluded that this variant is not already circulating in other countries including Italy. It will be necessary to continue studying the viral genome of the virus strains isolated in our country ».
In a tweet, the World Health Organization (WHO) also made it known that it was in “close contact” with the UK authorities in order to learn all the information relating to the characteristics of this variant of the virus, with relative implications.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
