While corona vaccines are being approved for the first time, a new mutation of the coronavirus is spreading.
Apparently, the variant is far more contagious.
The coronavirus variant B1.1.7 is currently spreading mainly in parts of Great Britain.
The mutation is apparently much more contagious than the conventional coronavirus.
What is already known about the new shape.
London - A
new variant of the corona virus
has apparently
been discovered in
Great Britain
.
According to
Prime Minister Boris Johnson
, according to initial findings, this is significantly more contagious than the known form.
It is currently assumed that the variant is up to 70 percent more contagious, the politician told journalists.
However, experts are skeptical of this number and warn against scaremongering.
The German
top virologist Christian Drosten,
for example, expressed doubts about the value, which is a pure estimate.
The number was "simply called that".
"Suddenly there is such a value in the room - 70 percent - and nobody even knows what is meant by it,"
continues
Drosten
.
Nevertheless, the
virologist
does not want to play down
the problem of the
virus mutation
, which belongs to the so-called
virus line B1.1.7
.
At the moment, however, the data situation is still too sketchy to make precise statements.
Corona mutation B1.1.7 discovered in England - has the virus spread further?
It also still needs to be clarified whether the
mutated virus is
really responsible for the
corona wave in south-east England
.
According to
Drosten
,
in rare cases
the
changed virus
appeared in England at the end of September.
In the meantime it could have spread more widely and it could already be in
Germany
.
According to Drosten, the mutation has not yet been discovered in Germany
(
as of December 20
).
Nevertheless, precautions are being taken in the Federal Republic.
The
corona mutation
seems to have
already been discovered in
Italy
- a patient who was infected with the virus variant is already being treated there.
The B.1.1.7 line has two possibly reinforcing and one possibly weakening mutation (ORF8).
Other unclear mutations.
Original virus / mutant not yet compared in the laboratory.
Distribution can be a coincidence, not necessarily a selection advantage, but possible.
Not seen in D yet.
https://t.co/gn6xl2Xrl3
- Christian Drosten (@c_drosten) December 20, 2020
The
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
commented in a speech also on vaccine related to the
Corona mutation
.
There is no evidence that
vaccines
are less effective, he said.
“There is still a lot we don't know.
But there is no evidence that the
new variant
triggers more or more severe disease processes. ”The
new corona mutation
has also not yet identified
any higher mortality
.
Coronavirus mutation: Change in the spike protein - Another variation also discovered in South Africa
In itself it is not unusual for
viruses
- and thus also the
coronavirus
- would change.
The new
corona mutation
differs from the already known form by a change in the so-called
spike protein of Sars-CoV-2
.
This particular mutation is known as
N501Y
.
With its spike-like structure, the virus attaches to human cells and then penetrates them.
A corona mutation apparently also spread in South Africa - as in Denmark.
You can find an overview of the different virus variants here.
Corona mutation: New virus variant is spreading - Strict measures are being adopted in affected regions in England
Because of the
coronavirus mutation B.1.1.7,
the government
significantly
tightened the restrictions for London from Sunday (December 20).
"If the
virus
changes its method of attack, we'll have to change our method of defense," said Johnson.
The previously three-stage corona warning system has now been expanded to four - including the capital as well as other regions in the southeast, for which an
express lockdown has also been
ordered.
Video: The Coronavirus Vaccines
In the
affected regions
, residents are only allowed to leave their homes for important reasons, for example to go to the doctor or to work.
Because of the
corona mutation,
you should
n't meet members of other households
at Christmas
either, Johnson emphasized.
“We can't spend Christmas as planned.” All non-essential businesses and other facilities such as fitness studios or beauty salons have to close.
Residents in regions with the
highest Corona level 4
are not allowed to leave this zone.
(
dpa / nema
)