As the corona 19 strain spreads rapidly in southeastern England, UK, the curiosity about the virus strain is growing.



It is not the first time that a genetic mutation has occurred in the Corona 19 virus, but health authorities in each country are paying close attention because the spread of this strain is 70% faster than the existing virus.



The British government has initiated an emergency blockade after imposing phase 4 of the Corona 19 response in southeastern England, including the capital London.



Other countries, mainly in Europe, have also taken steps to prevent the spread of the variant, including blocking flights from the UK.



We have compiled information on the variant Corona 19 virus based on foreign media such as the Daily Guardian in the UK.



-How strong is the propagation power of the variant?



▲ Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, said the spread of this strain is 70% faster than the existing virus.

He explained that it can also increase the reproductive index of infection by 0.4 or more.

The Infection Reproduction Index is an indicator of how many others a patient transmits the virus to. An index of 2 means that 1 person infects 2 people.

According to an announcement from the UK government on the 18th, the infectious reproductive index in the UK, which fell below 1, has risen again to 1.1-1.2.



"This strain is superior to all other COVID-19 virus strains in terms of infectivity," said Sir Patrick Balances, the UK government's chief scientific advisor.

According to him, the strain first appeared in London or nearby Kent at the end of September, and in the middle of last month, 28% of confirmed cases in London were due to the strain.

However, from the 9th of this month to a week, the variant caused 62% of confirmed cases in London.



-What specific mutations have occurred?



▲ As a result of analysis so far, scientists believe that a mutation occurred in the spike protein on the surface of the Corona 19 virus.

Spike protein, a bullhorn-shaped process, binds to the ACE-2 receptor in human cells, allowing the virus to penetrate.

The strain is thought to have increased propagation power by changing the Spike protein to more easily bind to the ACE-2 receptor.



-Will the strain weaken the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine?



▲ Western health experts believe the strain does not neutralize the vaccine's effectiveness.

"At the moment, it is assumed that the immune response from the vaccine is suitable for strains as well, but we need to be vigilant," said Lord Balance.

German health minister Jens Sfan also quoted European health authorities and experts in a media interview on the 20th, saying that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is effective against strains.



Montsef Slawi, the chief executive of the US's Corona 19 vaccine development program'Super-fast operation', also told CNN, "I don't think there was a single strain resistant to the vaccine so far." It doesn't exist right now."

Experts believe that the variant does not cause more serious symptoms or increase mortality.



-How is the British government responding to the spread of the strain?



▲ The UK has upgraded the Corona 19 response stage in the capital London and parts of southeast England to stage 4 for two weeks starting on the 20th.

It was determined that the existing three-stage response had limitations in responding to variants, and thus a new four-step equivalent to a full blockade was applied.

In step 4, if all non-essential stores, gymnasiums, beauty salons, etc. are closed and working from home is not possible, you must stay at home for purposes other than school, childcare, exercise, etc.



The easing of restrictions for the Christmas season, which had been applied for five days from the 23rd in England, has also been reduced to a day on Christmas Day.




-How to prevent the influx of strains from other countries?



▲ So far, countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America have announced measures to ban flights from the UK one after another.



The Dutch government has said it will ban aircraft carrying passengers from the UK from 20th to 1st January next year.

Germany has also banned all landings from the UK, except cargo planes, from 12 p.m. on the same night, and France has said it has banned all travel from the UK by road, air, sea or rail for 48 hours.

Other European countries, such as Belgium, Italy, Austria and Ireland, and Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, also said they would stop flights from the UK.



In Central and South America, Colombia has also announced that it will suspend all flights to and from the UK, and El Salvador has also blocked entry to South Africa, where the COVID-19 strain was found, along with the UK.



(Photo = Yonhap News, Getty Image Korea)