COVID-19: UK detects 2 cases of South Africa's virus strain, all direct flights banned

UK health secretary, Matt Hancock anunced on December 23 that UK has identified a second ‘more transmissible’ COVID-19 variant linked to South Africa that is spreing at a dangerous rate, just as tiering system was put in place to control first new variant. At least two cases in London and rth West England who were diagsed positive to coronavirus’ second new variant were put under quarantine. Both patients h travelled from South Africa over last few weeks, health secretary said at Downing Street conference. 

Effective 9 am today, December 24, those coming to England who has transited or h been to South Africa in last 10 days will t be allowed to enter country, Hancock said. Furrmore, UK has banned all direct flights to South Africa with immediate effect barring cargo and freight. All permanent residency visa holders and British and Irish nationals would be allowed to return to UK but will have to mandatorily quarantine for at least 10 days as per new rules. Under new travel restrictions to South Africa, anyone in UK who h returned from South Africa in past fortnight was asked to immediately isolate and get mselves tested at nearest centre. “By quarantine, I mean y restrict all contact with any or person whatsoever. We will be changing law to give this legal effect imminently,” Hancock warned. 

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Doubling time 'alarmingly shorter'

new second variant called N501Y has some similarities with first one detected in UK but has evolved into something ‘extremely explosive’, according to British health ministry. South African health minister doctor Zweli Mkhize compared variant outbreak to “early days of AIDS pandemic” and one that makes “younger and previously healthy people severely ill.” According to UK health secretary Hancock, after a meeting with Chief Scientific visor and Chief Medical Officer, it was found that second variant’s doubling time has been alarmingly shorter. mutated variant was being analyzed furr at Porton Down. Across UK, COVID-19 cases have risen 57 percent in last week, with hospital missions hitting 1,909 a day, highest recorded since April, Hancock said. 

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