'No need to panic', says Health Minister Harsh Vardhan as new COVID strain spreads in UK

As recent surge of cases of new coronavirus strain in UK has caused a stir across world, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on December 21 informed that “ government is alert” and that “re is need to panic”. Over 1,000 cases of coronavirus variant have been discovered in past few days in England and majorly in south of country where British Health Secretary Matt Hancock h said can be connected to a surge in cases. 

" government is alert. re is need to panic", said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on discovery of new strain of coronavirus in UK

Even World Health Organisation (WHO) h said that it is aware of new variant of COVID-19 but ted that re is still evidence of pathogen behaving any differently from existing s of virus that have rocked world since beginning of 2020. Last week, WHO Emergencies Director Dr Mike Ryan h said in a Geneva news conference that authorities are still looking at significance of strain discovery and ded, “We have seen many variants, this virus evolves and changes over time.”

Re - Need For Expeditious COVID-19 Vaccination Drive To Cover Targeted Population: Harsh Vardhan

Re - Harsh Vardhan Hails India's Fight Against COVID; Says 'we Pursued Evidence-based Approach'

How fast is new strain spreing?

As India recorded 24,337 new cases, 25,709 recoveries, and 333 deaths in last 24 hours taking country's tally to 1,00,55,560 with 96,06,111 recoveries, new strain of COVID-19 is reportedly replacing or versions of virus in UK. Even though it is a well-kwn fact among experts that pathogens mutate as y continue to spre, as per reports, re are some parts of new coronavirus variant that are likely to be important. 

Some of mutations have alrey been shown in lab to enhance ability of virus to infect cells in host’s body. se new factors can sum up for virus to spre more easily among people even as global infections as per Johns Hopkins University tally have surpassed 76 million with over 1.6 million deaths. 

new strain, which can be new worry for medical professionals, was reportedly first discovered in September. This was followed by a quarter of cases in London by vember and by mid-December, it has reached to two-thirds of cases. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson h also said that variant may be up to 70% more transmissible. Except for rrn Ireland, new COVID-19 strain can be found across UK.

Re - India Recognised COVID Threat Early, Pursued Scientific Evidence-based Approach: Harsh Vardhan

Re - 'Ayushman Bharat Has Completely Revolutionised Country's Healthcare System': Harsh Vardhan