A new mutant of the COVID-19 has instigated another lockdown in the United Kingdom (UK). On Sunday, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, while announcing a Tier 4 lockdown in London and South-Eastern England, said that this new variant is “out of control”, adding that the situation would be difficult to control “until the vaccine is rolled out”. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also warned that the new variant is almost 70% more infectious than its predecessor.
Health experts across the UK have voiced their concern for this new strain. The Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, said that the mutant was the cause of 60% of the infections in London. Moreover, the head of the British government’s advisory group said that the new strain is a “real cause for concern” and warned the global community of its prospective impact.
The announcement attracted widespread criticism from the public, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had only recently pledged to relax the lockdown restrictions for Christmas. Furthermore, the opposition, too, has directed criticism against the incumbent government for failing to act sooner. Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, said, “We have known about rising infections and the NHS reaching capacity in many parts of the country for weeks. The alarm bells have been ringing for weeks, but the Prime Minister chose to ignore them … it is an act of gross negligence by a Prime Minister who, once again, has been caught behind the curve.” Lisa Nandy, another Labour Party leader, said that the policy was a “perfect example” of Boris Johnson “making a promise he knew he couldn’t keep about Christmas.”
These developments have prompted a wave of new travel restrictions across the continent, with several European countries announcing travel bans from the UK. Citing the “new health risk” posed by the coronavirus variant in the UK, French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a 48-hour travel ban from the UK on all “passenger and human-handled freight transport”. A similar decision was taken by the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, and Turkey.
Several countries across the world have also imposed similar restrictions on travellers from the UK. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed a ban on travellers from the UK for at least 72 hours, which he said was necessary to “protect Canadians across the country”. Several South American countries, including Argentina, Chile and Colombia, and Israel, have suspended all direct flights to and from the UK. Accordingly, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has convened an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the restrictions, particularly on “the steady flow of freight into and out of the UK”.
This news has attracted concern across the world. While it originated in Southern England, the strain has been found in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Australia. The World Health Organisation has warned its European members of the impact of this new wave and has urged them to strengthen measures to curb its spread. Meanwhile, the Indian Health Ministry has convened an emergency meeting of its Joint Monitoring Group to discuss the way forward, specifically in light of the “out of control” mutant virus. The meeting will also be attended by the World Health Organisation’s India Representative, Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin.
New Mutant Coronavirus Strain in UK Prompts Worldwide Concern
A new strain of a more infectious coronavirus has caused several European countries to stop flights from the UK. Meanwhile, the Indian Health Ministry is also convening to discuss the way forward.
December 21, 2020
SOURCE: FINANCIAL TIMES