Last Updated on January 8, 2021, 8:00 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts and Nevis: There is a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 found in South Africa and Nigeria, and a new version is spreading to most of England, the Chief Medical Officer reported. Dr. Hazel Laws, National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) COVID-19 press briefing during 06 January.
“Science has suggested that these three strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are distinct,” she said. “Scientists feel that a lot of work has been done on new variants roaming the United Kingdom (UK). What they are saying is that this new version is much more variable than the previous version of the virus. ”
Because of this, the UK is experiencing an increase in the number of cases. Dr. The law said that on 05 January 2021, the number of new daily confirmed cases in Britain rose to over 60,000 for the first time. The BBC said that the number of patients in hospitals in the UK during the first peak in 2020 is 40 times more than their experience.
The chief medical officer said, “As a result, England is in its third national lockdown coming into force from tomorrow and may extend to mid-February of this year.”
Dr. The law stated that the new form of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is 56 to 70 percent more infectious than previous forms; It spreads more easily among people; People do not feel ill; However, it will spread rapidly and infect more people and will increase the number of deaths due to it.
As a result, the Chief Medical Officer said that citizens returning from the UK for a quarantine period of two weeks should be quarantined (confined to their rooms). They then have to perform the expected RT-PCR test. Once it is negative, they will be able to integrate into society.
“When you are returning a national from the United Kingdom, you will not be allowed to leave in the place,” she said. “You will be quarantined and confined in your rooms for two weeks.”
According to the New York Times, the new version has been found in Colorado and California. It is now rare in the United States. Dr. The law stated that much testing needed to be done and eventually its prevalence in the United States.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
