Brussels-Sana
Belgium announced today the registration of the first infection with the new mutant of Corona in the European continent, after it was detected in South Africa.
"We have a confirmed infection with this mutation in an unvaccinated person returning from abroad," the Belgian Ministry of Health was quoted by AFP as saying today.
In addition, the World Health Organization said, "Understanding the impact of this mutation (B1.1.529) will take a few weeks, and researchers are working to determine its susceptibility to spread and how it will affect treatments and vaccines."
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier warned in a press briefing in Geneva against expediting the imposition of travel restrictions associated with this mutation, adding, "At this stage, the World Health Organization recommends that countries continue to apply a scientific, risk-based approach when implementing travel procedures."
Because of the fears arising from the monitoring of this mutation, which scientists warned that it may be more contagious than Delta and more resistant to current vaccines, global stock exchanges witnessed a major decline today, including stocks and oil prices, which could deal a severe blow to the global economic recovery from the epidemic.
