British epidemiologists identified a new mutation in coronavirus when they investigated the reasons for the sudden spike of cases in the south-east of England despite the restrictions imposed that controlled the spread of the virus in other parts of the country.
It was on 8 December that a group of scientists from Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) collected tracked and investigated the virus, to discover a new variant with 23 mutations in a patient test in Kent, near the outbreak center at the end of September.
The same variant was also found in the sample examined in London the following day. These new mutations have been shown to improve the communicability of the virus.
Scientists have stated that the samples they got back in September had the new B.1.1.7 strain, so the variant has been out there unregulated quietly for some time.
The number of mutations that the genome has gained is what makes the current covid-19 strain worrisome.
It has an unusually large number of mutations, according to British scientists, leading to a quicker spread of the virus in areas where it has been detected.
The new variant accounts for more than 60% of cases in London and scientists say that the variant is probably more contagious than the original versions of the virus.
Although the government was advised to bring in lockdown on 21st September 2020 by the scientific advisory committee not until the 4th of January UK went into lockdown.
The new strain was spreading rapidly throughout the country on 29 December alone 80,000 cases were recorded in the country.
Following a sharp spike of coronavirus cases, Boris Johnson on 4th January announced that England will go into its third full lockdown.
This alarmed the other countries, France and other European countries shut down their border immediately and many countries stopped the in and outflow of the UK flights.
The UK government set-up strict rules instructing people to remain at home and urged them not to leave home unless it was in any case of emergency or to buy supplies.
Schools and universities were asked to shift back to remote learning.
The United Kingdom Government has quietly extended coronavirus lockdown until July 17th. Giving local councils in England the authority to close restaurants, shops, pubs, and public spaces until July 17.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that the government could not consider easing restrictions with the infection rates surging high until it is confident that the vaccination program is working the lockdown will be in place.
Meanwhile, the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination spurred on Saturday, with 5.9 million people now receiving the first dose.
All people arriving in the UK must have a negative coronavirus test report prior to 72 hours and must quarantine for 10 days.
Britain has recorded more than 3.6 million Covid-19 cases which is the fifth-highest in the world and 97,000 deaths.
Countries including the Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Belgium, Italy, the USA, and India have also been identified with the new coronavirus strains.
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