Covid-19: the progression of the Indian variant worries in the United Kingdom
A healthcare worker processes tests at a screening unit at Uxbridge Municipal Center, Hillingdon, West London, May 25, 2021. AFP - ADRIAN DENNIS
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3 min
The Indian variant weakens the situation in the United Kingdom where the epidemic has strongly decreased in recent months thanks to vaccination and confinement.
After Germany and Austria, France announced Wednesday, May 26, that travelers arriving from across the Channel would be subject to compulsory isolation from Monday.
A measure to limit the importation of variant cases.
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One variant seems to chase the other.
The so-called “Indian” variant is gaining ground in the United Kingdom while the dominant variant is declining.
It seems to spread especially among the youngest, population with little or no vaccination.
In some localities, its progression is rapid.
Always effective vaccines
The optimism that was current, linked to the sharp decline in the epidemic in recent months (2,700 cases per day against 60,000 in January), is now tinged with concern to the point that
the continuation of deconfinement
across
the
Channel could be questioned.
According to scientists, the Indian variant could be more contagious than the so-called “British” variant, which imposed itself this winter, and which itself is more transmissible than the original virus.
On the other hand, the vaccines seem to hold up quite well, but after two doses.
According to preliminary data, in the face of the Indian mutant, the effectiveness after the first dose would be reduced.
80 cases of Indian variant detected in France
In France, around 80 cases of the Indian variant have been identified. But there may be more. The so-called "screening" tests, carried out on half of the positive cases and intended to identify certain mutations, do not, for the moment, make it possible to distinguish the Indian variant from the others. This requires sequencing, a heavy technique. However, the number of sequencing remains low in France in view of the epidemic situation.
To limit the importation of the Indian variant, government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Wednesday announced the establishment of a
one-week "
compulsory isolation
" for travelers from the United Kingdom.
And this from Monday.
"
Compelling reasons will be required for non-resident foreign nationals joining France from the United Kingdom,
" he said.
In addition, "
any person joining France from the United Kingdom
will have to produce a PCR or antigen test dating from less than 48 hours
".
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