Both Britain and Israel have placed several South African countries on their red lists in an attempt to stop people from bringing in a new variant of the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization is likely to describe as one of ‘interest’ or ‘concern’ tomorrow.
Unlike the Delta variant, which has only two mutations, ‘B. 1.1.529 ‘has ten. It is described as being very contagious and it will not be surprising if it is attributed soon “Epsilon ‘label.
Among the countries on the red lists are South Africa, which is believed to be the source of the new variant, and Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland.
All flights between the countries and Israel and the UK have ceased and it is believed The European Commission will do the same when its president, Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted confirmation of the plans this morning.
Worrying number of mutations
Professor Allan Randrup Thomsen, a virology expert at the University of Copenhagen, is concerned about the high number of mutations.
“We know some of the mutations. They are usually associated with being highly contagious and having a possible resistance to the vaccines,” he said.
The WHO met yesterday and is expected to hold another meeting later today.
Case of ‘B. 1.1.529 ‘have so far been detected in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong.
Source: The Nordic Page