A new and potentially even more infectious variant of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been found in Britain in cases linked to South Africa, reports Reuters quoting British Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Hancock made the development public on Wednesday, adding that this new variant of coronavirus possibly originated in South Africa.
While the first mutant was claimed by many to be about 70 per cent more infectious than SARS-CoV-2, Hancock reportedly informed that the new strain identified today is even more transmissible than the first one.
Akin to the situation in the UK, the appearance of the new variant led to a spike in infections across South Africa as well, with many experts warning about a possible, much larger second wave.
"Thanks to the impressive genomic capability of the South Africans, we've detected two cases of another new variant of coronavirus here in the UK," Hancock said during a media briefing in London today. "Both are contacts of cases who have travelled from South Africa over the past few weeks," he was quoted by Reuters as saying.
While making the Tier 4 lockdown announcement at 10 Downing Street, Hancock announced that "anyone who has been in South Africa during the last fortnight or anyone who were in close contact with anyone in South Africa must be quarantined immediately," reports said. He also urged all arrivals from South Africa in the past two weeks to isolate themselves, while informing that the UK will also be issuing travel restrictions for South Africa.