According to experts, the virus variant discovered in India is up to 50 percent more transmittable, but Great Britain continues to rely on the easing measures that have already been decided.
Update from May 16, 2021:
It is considered particularly contagious and is currently spreading in many countries around the world: the newly discovered Indian corona mutation.
Although the mutant is increasingly being discovered in Great Britain, the government continues to rely on the loosening that has been decided.
British Health Minister Matt Hancock has now defended the government's opening plans in London. If the higher transferability of the mutant turns out to be low, there will be next to no impact on the country's easing schedule, Hancock told Sky News on Sunday. "We just don't know, so it is appropriate to keep following the roadmap, but people have to be vigilant and careful," the conservative politician continued.
From Monday onwards, meetings of up to six people in private households should again be possible in the largest British part of the country, England. Indoor restaurants, theaters, cinemas and museums can also receive guests again. And this although a strong increase in infections due to the Indian virus variant B.1.617.2 was recorded locally. The federal government therefore classified the country as a corona risk area again on Friday. Overall, however, Great Britain currently has comparatively few cases with a nationwide seven-day incidence of around 23 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week.
According to British experts, the Indian variant is possibly up to 50 percent more contagious than the virus variant B.1.1.7 that has prevailed in the country so far.
If this proves to be true, the timetable for further opening steps could stall, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Friday.
Johnson actually wanted to lift all corona measures in the country on June 21.
The government will decide on June 14th whether this should actually happen.
Indian corona mutant: Researchers are alarmed - Premier Johnson announces change in vaccination strategy
Original
article
from May 15, 2021:
London - "B.1.617.2" worries British experts.
The corona variant baptized in this way, which was detected for the first time in India, is, in their opinion, easier to transfer than previous mutations - including variant B.1.1.7 discovered in Great Britain.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson therefore gave a press conference in the British capital on Friday.
It is not yet clear how much faster the variant will spread, the conservative politician added.
In the worst case, the country would face difficult decisions.
Corona mutation from India is spreading up to 50 percent faster, according to researchers
The SAGE expert panel, which advises the government, assumes that B.1.617.2 could spread up to 50 percent faster than B.1.1.7.
It can be assumed that the Indian variant will become dominant in Great Britain, added the chief medical advisor to the government Chris Whitty at the press conference with Johnson.
Overall, the number of infections in the UK is very low with a nationwide 7-day incidence of around 23.
Regionally, however, there has been an increase again in recent weeks, which is partly attributed to the Indian variant.
According to official data, the number of cases of variant B.1.617.2 detected in Great Britain has doubled to a good 1,300 cases within one week.
However, this is not yet reflected in an increased number of hospital admissions or deaths.
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Scene from a quarantine center in India: the corona mutation B.1.617.2 was discovered in the country.
© Abhisek Saha / Le Pictorium / Imago
Indian virus variant: RKI classifies Great Britain again as a corona risk area
Further opening steps are planned for Monday.
Johnson does not see this timetable in jeopardy so far, but warned that the Indian variant could make the lifting of all corona measures planned for the end of June more difficult.
As a precaution, the interval between the first and second vaccination for the over 50-year-old group is to be shortened from twelve to eight weeks.
"There is no evidence that the vaccines are less effective," said Johnson.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) again classified Great Britain as a corona risk area on Friday because of the Indian variant.
(dpa / frs)
List of rubric lists: © Phil Noble / PA Wire / dpa
