Brazil COVID variant already in UK, confirms top scientist Prof Wendy Barclay

On January 14, a top scientist in UK confirmed that one of  vel coronavirus variants found in Brazil had already entered UK. Prof Wendy Barclay, who heads G2P-UK National Virology Consortium, told British media outlets that newly launched project that was aimed at researching effects of emerging COVID-19 mutations found that one of two Brazilian variants was already inside UK. She added that Brazilian strain will be “traced very carefully” inside UK. This comes as UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told local press that he “wasn’t aware” about new COVID-19 variant’s presence inside Britain. 

UK banned South Americans from entering country amid growing concerns about a mutant coronavirus strain that originated in Brazil. ban came into force at 4 am on Friday after reports of new Brazilian variant of coronavirus was detected in country. UK’s restriction covers Portugal due to travel links with Brazil,  Central American state of Panama, and former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde. Shapps told BBC Radio 4’s Today 4 that Brazilian variant detected is completely different from strains originated in UK and South Africa. She, however, said that virus strain has some key mutations and can lead to a huge surge in transmission rate. 

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Portuguese minister condemns UK ban

UK’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told British press that ban imposed to contain spread of new Brazilian variant was extended to Portugal because travellers from Portugal arriving in Europe from South America. Shapps told UK’s BBC, that re were kwn cases of Brazilian strain at moment, and ban was a precautionary approach. He added that government wanted to ensure that y do everything possible so that vaccine rollout can continue and spread of new variant could be mitigated. Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva reportedly condemned UK’s decision, saying that ban was “without logic”. Furrmore, he informed that he would hold talks with his British counterparts about suspending flights from Portugal. 

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(Im Credit: AP)