Questions About the U.K.’s Mutated COVID-19 Strain:, Answered.
A new, potentially more contagious strand of COVID-19 has been identified in the U.K. and is causing worldwide panic.
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The variant, known as VUI-202012/0, has been linked to a recent surge of COVID-19 cases in England.
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Here are answers to six pressing questions you might have about the mutated COVID-19 strain.
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1.
What is a variant?, According to the CDC, a variant occurs when a virus’s genetic structure changes.
Viruses mutate over time and variants are common and trackable, as they carry a genetic fingerprint.
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Where did it originate and how did it take hold?, According to the WHO and PHE, the variant first emerged in southeast England in September.
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Multiple experts think the variant was amplified due to a superspreader event.
This means that human behavior may have caused the latest spike in cases, not higher transmissibility.
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What countries have been affected so far?
, According to the WHO, the variant has already been detected in Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia and Italy.
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Is it more deadly?
, Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, has said there is “no evidence” to suggest the new variant is more deadly.
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Multiple experts have pointed out virus mutation typically means more transmissibility and decreased mortality.
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Will the vaccine work against it?
, Whitty stressed on Saturday that current vaccines should still work against the new COVID-19 variant.
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Moncef Slaoui, head of Operation Warp Speed, echoed his assurance on Sunday, saying there hasn’t been “a single variant that would be resistant to the vaccine.” .
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What measures are being taken to contain it?
, Large areas of England have been put under strict COVID-19 restrictions to reduce the virus’s spread.
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Dozens of countries across Europe and beyond have also announced travel bans on the U.K.
