Experts claim that BRITS should be prepared for new coronavirus restrictions if a variant is discovered.
This variant, which is scientifically known as B.1.1.529 in the UK, has not been confirmed.
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It is the most evolved so far with 32 mutations, and could be worse than Delta, experts have warned.
The variant has only been found in five countries so far – but its power has sparked a sudden ban on flights from six nations to the UK.
Professor Adam Finn is a member on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. He said that there are still many things to learn about the new variant.
Prof Finn spoke on Good Morning Britain today, saying that the virus needs to be evaluated in terms of its risk and that restrictions cannot be ruled out.
Britain has been relatively free from restrictions since the summer that the last set was lifted.
Last winter, Tiers were established to prevent the spread and many Brits were unable spend Christmas with loved ones because of restrictions.
Professor Finn said: “On the one hand, I don’t want to induce unnecessary anxiety in people, but on the other hand, I think we all need to be ready for the possibility of a change in the restrictions.”
He said that it was impossible to predict how the new variant might impact Christmas plans for Brits.
Prof Finn stated that South Africa’s sudden increase in cases could be related to the variant’s transmissibility.
“We now need to wait and see just what kind of threat this new variant may pose.
“If we’re lucky, it won’t be a serious one, but it could be very serious”, he added.
A spokesperson for No10 said that there was “nothing in our current data to suggest that we need to move to Plan B”.
Professor Lawrence Young said: “This new variant is currently detected at relatively low levels in parts of South Africa but it looks like it’s spreading rapidly.
“It’s clear from the concerns about this variant and from what’s going on in other parts of Europe that we need to be cautious in the run up to Christmas.
“Increasing the uptake of vaccines, encouraging more widespread use of face coverings and restricting large gatherings in poorly ventilated spaces are important approaches to protect the population, ensure that health services are not overwhelmed and that Christmas festivities are not disrupted.”
Plan B would require that you wear face masks and work from home orders in order to move forward.
For the purpose of determining if any cases are already from South Africa, sequencing is being done in the UK.
“There are a number of things going on now to understand this, to look for it, to trace it, to hopefully stamp it out if it is already here,”He said.
Red list restrictions are being placed on South Africa and six other countries due to the discovery.
According to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana as well as Botswana and Eswatini, will be suspended starting at midday tomorrow. All six countries will then be added to the redlist.
Javid stated that the South African variant has been identified. “may be more transmissible”Added to the Delta strain “the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective”.
Professor Devi Sridhar, who spoke this morning on Good Morning Britain, said that mutations will continue as long the virus is able to spread to other parts of the world.
“Sometimes, one of those mutations will have the advantage of being more transmissible than Alpha and Delta.
“It’s to be expected and people shouldn’t be worried, we will continue to hear about variants.”
She mentioned that the World Health Organisation is holding a meeting today to discuss the variant and give recommendations to governments.
“I think you’re going to see many countries going the same way as Britain , saying we aren’t going to watch and wait like we have in the past. We have a booster programme that has been successful – so why don’t we hold onto the progress we have and limit travel to those places it could be imported from”She said so.
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