The mutated coronavirus strain that is spreading in the UK appears to be more contagious and is likely to lead to higher levels of hospitalizations and deaths next year, according to a new study.
The variant is 56% more transmissible than other strains, according to the study by the Center for Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. There is no clear evidence that it results in more or less serious illnesses.
The UK government had previously said that the mutated variant appears to be up to 70% more transmissible than other circulating strains. Plus, yes nearly two dozen mutations that can affect coronavirus-produced proteins, Patrick Vallance, the UK’s leading scientific adviser, said on 19 December.
This has raised concerns that the tests, treatments and vaccines that have just begun to be deployed are less effective, although the European health regulator said the variant is probably not different enough from the previous ones to circumvent the shot. by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE. Countries like Australia, Denmark and Singapore have also discovered the strain.
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Measures such as the national closure of England in November are unlikely to reduce the number of reproductions (the new infections estimated to be derived from a single case) to less than one if schools and universities are not closed, according to the ‘report. He also said it may be necessary to accelerate the launch of vaccines to contain their spread, at a rate of 2 million people a week compared to the current rate of 200,000.