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London (AP) - Due to the rapid spread of a new variant of the corona virus in Great Britain, the government has imposed a new shutdown for the capital London.
The recently discovered variant is up to 70 percent more contagious than the previously known form, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
There is no evidence that vaccines against the mutation are less effective.
“There's still a lot we don't know.
But there is no evidence that the new variant causes more or more severe disease processes, ”said Johnson.
A higher mortality rate from the virus variant VUI2020 / 12/01 has not yet been determined.
The top scientific government advisor Patrick Vallance emphasized that in December 60 percent of the new infections in London affected the new variant.
"It is spreading rapidly and is becoming the dominant variety," he said.
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Because of the spread, the government tightened the corona restrictions in London, for example: Christmas parties with families and friends are now canceled for millions of people.
"If the virus changes its method of attack, we have to change our method of defense," said Johnson.
"Without these measures, the signs suggest that the number of infections will skyrocket, hospitals would be overwhelmed and thousands more people will lose their lives."
Instead of three corona warning levels, there will be four in the future - the highest also include other regions in the southeast, in addition to the capital.
There, residents are only allowed to leave their homes for important reasons, such as going to the doctor or going to work.
Even at Christmas you shouldn't meet members of other households, emphasized Johnson.
"We are sacrificing the opportunity to see our loved ones this Christmas so we have a better chance of protecting their lives so that we can see them at Christmas in the future."
All non-essential businesses and other facilities such as fitness studios, hairdressers, cinemas and beauty salons have to close.
Residents of the highest Corona level 4 are not allowed to leave this zone.
The trade association BRC warned of serious consequences for the economy.
"For companies, the government's back and forth is anything but helpful," said Helen Dickinson, head of the association.
The decision is made in the middle of the most important phase of retail before Christmas.
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About 27,000 new corona cases were counted in Great Britain on Saturday, so there have been more than two million infections in the country.
Around 83,000 people have died with or from the lung disease Covid-19 so far.
The government had started mass vaccination a good ten days ago.
So far, around 350,000 people across the country have received funding from the Mainz-based pharmaceutical company Biontech and its US partner Pfizer, as Johnson said.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201219-99-756216 / 2