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Summary
- The Geneva-based body has said that the new variant spread is alarming but its normal part of a pandemic’s evolution
- Hans Kluge, the Regional Director of WHO, tweeted that putting a travel constraint to contain the transmission is a wise step
The World Health Organization (WHO) is all set to hold a meeting of its members to discuss the next steps that will help in countering the new coronavirus strain that has emerged in Britain last week, said Hans Kluge, Regional Director of WHO. The meeting date has not been announced yet.
Kluge tweeted that putting a constraint on travel to contain the transmission is a wise decision until there is more information about the new mutation. Urging more preventive measures, he also said that the supply chains of essential goods and essential travel should be opened.
The WHO has repeatedly said that there’s lack of information to determine whether the new variant could affect vaccine efficacy, but it stressed that research work is on.
The Geneva-based body has praised Britain for detecting the new strain and clarified that such mutation is a normal part of a pandemic’s evolution.
(Image source: ©Kalkine Group 2020)
The new variant
Last week, the UK found a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, which was rapidly spreading in London, South-East and East England. The new variant is being referred to as Variant Under Investigation 202012/01, or the B.1.1.7 lineage, which was identified in genomic surveillance by Covid-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK).
The COG-UK is a consortium formed to provide rapid whole genome virus sequencing to local centres of the NHS and the UK government.
The variant is the result of multiple mutations in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 as well as mutations in other genomic regions of the RNA virus. The initial studies suggest that it is more transmissible than the previous one.
The COG-UK has identified one of these mutations as N501Y and is in the process of analysing if any of these mutations are contributing to increased transmission.
How is it affecting
- Surge in the infection rate
As of 13 December, 1,108 cases of the new variant were registered, particularly in London, South and East of England, said Public Health England. Investigation is being carried out by PHE and its partners and the analysis will be shared over a period of next two weeks.
- Travel ban
As many as 40 countries around the world have imposed bans and restrictions on travel to and from the UK to stem the transmission of the coronavirus variant. Some of them are Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey.
- Decline in stock market
The new strain leading to flight and freight bans from the UK have sparked a stock market sell-off across Europe. London Stock Exchange’s benchmark index, FTSE 100 fell 2.9 per cent in midmorning trade on Monday and the British pound slid sharply.
Travel stocks such as International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LON: IAG), Wizz Air Holding (LON:WIZZ) and EasyJet PLC (LON: EZJ) dropped between 11 per cent to 16 per cent, while InterContinental Hotels Group recorded a 4 per cent drop.
Crude prices slid with energy majors BP PLC (LON: BP.), Total Energy Services Inc (LON:0S9F) and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (LON: RSDA) losing between 3 per cent to 6 per cent by mid-afternoon on 21 December.
Also Read: UK and European Markets’ Declined Due to New Coronavirus Fears and Brexit Chaos
