Chinanews, December 23, comprehensive report, recently, the mutation of the new crown virus in the UK has caused widespread concern.
The World Health Organization pointed out on the 22nd that the mutated virus may increase infectivity by 40% to 70%. The variant first appeared in Kent in southeastern England on September 20; the CDC said the mutated virus may have spread in the United States. ; German and British pharmaceutical companies expressed their confidence in the vaccine developed.
Data map: On December 21, local time, after the UK announced the discovery of the mutant virus, many EU countries imposed a traffic blockade on the UK.
On the M20 highway near Ashford, England, long-distance freight trucks could not leave the country and lined up on the side of the road.
WHO: The mutant virus appeared 3 months ago
British scientists say child infection rate may be pushed up
On December 22, local time, the World Health Organization released relevant information about mutated viruses reported by the United Kingdom.
Preliminary analysis shows that this variant may increase infectivity by 40% to 70%, and the spread index increases by 0.4 between 1.5 and 1.7.
Previously, from October 5th to December 13th, the notification rate of newly diagnosed cases in the United Kingdom increased by more than three times in 14 days. More than 50% of the strains detected in the southeast of England were of this variant.
As of December 13, 1,108 cases of the mutant virus have been detected in the UK.
According to information released by the WHO, a retrospective study found that the variant first appeared in Kent in southeastern England on September 20, and most of the cases infected with the variant were under 60 years old.
Since the outbreak, the United Kingdom has carried out routine sequencing of 5% to 10% of the virus, and southeast England has carried out routine sequencing of 4% of the new coronavirus.
The WHO recommends that further epidemiological and virological studies should be carried out to understand the changes in the infectivity and pathogenicity of mutant viruses.
The organization also recommended that all countries increase routine sequencing of the virus when possible, and share virus genetic sequence data.
All countries must assess the level of local virus transmission and take appropriate preventive and control measures.
In addition, Neil Ferguson, a professor of epidemiology at Imperial College London, said there are signs that mutant viruses are more likely to infect children.
Ferguson colleague Wendy Barkley stated that “children are likely to be as susceptible to infection as adults” and more cases of infection in children can be expected.
Data map: On December 21, local time, people visited the "Christmas in the Park" Christmas-themed decoration exhibition in the San Jose Historical Park, California, USA in a "drive speed" way.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan
The mutant virus may have spread in the United States!
German and British manufacturers have confidence in the vaccine developed
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on the 22nd that the mutant virus found in the UK may have spread in the US.
The center said in a statement: "Considering the continued travel between Britain and the United States and the high prevalence of this mutant virus in the current infection in the UK, the mutant virus is likely to have spread in the United States."
Currently, the United States has not yet screened passengers departing from the United Kingdom.
The members of the White House's new crown task force requested pre-flight inspections of passengers, but the government decided not to take any action for the time being.
New York State Governor Cuomo has notified some airlines to require British passengers destined for New York to submit a negative virus test report within 72 hours before departure.
So, does the new crown vaccine still protect against mutant viruses?
The CEO of the German Biotech Company said that it is not yet clear whether the vaccine developed by the company and Pfizer in the United States can resist this virus variant.
The company's co-founder and CEO, Ugur Sahin, MD, said it will take two weeks to complete the required laboratory work.
Schein pointed out, "Scientifically speaking, the immune response triggered by this vaccine is likely to be able to deal with this new virus variant." He also said that the vaccine may be improved within 6 weeks, but this may require supervision. Department’s approval.
He added that the company has "scientific confidence" in its vaccine because the protein on the British virus variant is 99% identical to the protein on the epidemic strain.
At the same time, British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said on the 22nd that the company's new crown vaccine should be effective against this new virus variant, adding that it is conducting research to fully investigate the impact of the mutant virus.
Data map: A street in the center of Paris, France, with few pedestrians.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Yang
France relaxes restrictions on entry of British people
More countries increase prevention and control
On the 22nd local time, the European Commission recommended that EU member states suspend the current travel ban on the UK in order to resume freight and basic traffic as soon as possible, and to ensure that EU residents can return to their homes.
The European Commission stated that when EU residents return from the UK, they should be allowed to travel if they have a negative nucleic acid test report or are isolated for 10 days after entry.
That night, France decided to reopen the border with some British personnel from the 23rd.
But the prerequisite is that the relevant personnel must have a certificate of negative viral nucleic acid or antigen test within 72 hours when entering the country.
In addition, aircraft, ships and Eurostar trains between Britain and France will also resume operations from the 23rd.
However, more countries have taken response measures to strengthen the prevention and control of imported cases of new crowns.
Hungary suspended flights from the United Kingdom on the 22nd; India will ban the entry of flights from the United Kingdom from the 22nd to the 31st, and re-do virus tests on passengers from the United Kingdom recently; Iraq decided to ban flights from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Passengers from Belgium, Iran and Japan entered the country.
In addition, Pakistan has imposed temporary restrictions on direct or indirect entry of passengers from the United Kingdom on the 23rd; Norway will require passengers arriving from the United Kingdom in the past two weeks to undergo nucleic acid testing; Cyprus will quarantine passengers arriving from the United Kingdom.