(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) Variant strains discovered in India may affect the UK's "full unblocking" plan
China News Agency, London, May 14 (Zhang Mengqi) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated on the 14th that the new crown variant strain found in India may cause the delay of the UK’s “fourth phase of the complete lifting of the epidemic blockade” plan on June 21.
Johnson said at a press conference: "I must tell the British people that the variant virus discovered in India will seriously interfere with our progress in the'full unblocking of the epidemic' and may make June the fourth of the'unblocking road map'. It’s more difficult to move."
A few days ago, the variant virus found in India has been confirmed to be spreading in areas such as Bolton and Blackburn in the UK. Four people died of the variant strain. This is the first known death in the UK to be infected with the variant strain.
According to government data, there were 1,313 cases of variant strains found in India in England within a week, more than double the number in the previous week.
Johnson said that the process of unblocking the British epidemic depends on the spread of the variant strain found in India, and British scientists need more time to determine.
If it is indeed much more transmissible than previous variant strains, "some hard choices" will have to be made.
"The competition between our vaccination program and the variant strains found in India may become even more tense."
The consultant of the British Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergency Situations (SAGE) stated that there is a "realistic possibility" that the variant strains found in India may be 50% more transmissible than the variant strains that appeared in Kent, England at the end of last year. ".
Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer of England, said: "We expect that over time, the scale of infection of this variant strain will surpass and dominate in the UK."
Due to concerns about the variant virus found in India, Johnson announced plans to accelerate the second dose of vaccination for priority groups. "We will accelerate the provision of the remaining first dose for people over 50 and those who are clinically vulnerable nationwide. With two doses, the interval between the first and second COVID-19 vaccination will be shortened from 12 weeks to 8 weeks."
The British government has included India on the tourism "red list" on April 23, which means that all immigrants from India will be quarantined in hotels approved by the British government for 10 days. (Finish)