At the moment of writing this article, the new strain of COVID-19 sweeping through England has already reached 10 other territories and nations overseas.
The easing of travel restrictions and a sense of “new-normality” after months of living with the original virus have allowed this mutation to fall through the biosafety cracks and get to places as far as Australia.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has informed multiple cases of the new variant have been detected across Europe.
Countries that reported or suspecting new strain of Coronavirus:
Australia – Authorities reported that two travelers from the UK were detected carrying the new U.K. mutant strain.
Belgium – The ECDC has confirmed positive cases for the new strain in this country.
Canada – Authorities confirmed new strain of the virus in Canada. Couple from Durham, Ontario, has contained the new strain. They have been placed in the isolation.
Czech Republic – The local government already confirmed cases of a new strain of Coronavirus in the country.
Denmark – Health authorities have confirmed 9 cases of the new mutant strain so far.
Iceland – Authorities have confirmed 1 new case of the new variant.
Japan – Japan’s officials already reported and confirmed the UK strain of Coronavirus. As the country is going through a strong 3rd wave of Coronavirus outbreak, the government has decided to impose new strict entry requirements.
France – Not confirmed yet but French Health Minister Olivier Veran stated it is “entirely possible” the new strain is already in the country.
Gibraltar – Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar has informed a patient infected with the new strain was detected back in September.
Italy – Italy has reported one patient infected with the new strain.
The Netherlands – Dutch authorities have revealed they detected the same new strain earlier this month. So far, only one patient has tested positive for the new strain.
Slovakia – Minister of Health, Marek Krajci, announced that the situation and spread of the 2nd wave of Coronavirus in Slovakia resemble the spread in the UK.
South Africa – The South African government has confirmed the new strain they were studying is not the one found in the U.K.
The new South African Coronavirus strain already triggered international reaction and 6 countries banned flights from South Africa.
Sweden – Swedish researchers already found new mutation of the virus that spreads faster in early April.
United States – US authorities decided not to stop flights from the UK because they are suspecting that the new virus strain might be in the US already since September.
Hawaii – Dr. Scott Miscovich, said on a press conference that new mutant of Coronavirus could be already in Hawaii because it has already made its way to New York and Los Angeles.
Although the alarm went off over the last few days, Dr. John Campbell, a health analyst based in the UK has stated that the new strain was first identified back in September.
Does it mean that the new strain is more lethal?
British health authorities have reported the VUI-202012/01 does not seem to cause more severe symptoms, or lead to higher death tolls.
Also, current vaccines for COVID-19 are expected to be just as effective against this strain.
However, this mutation of the coronavirus has been proved to contain a higher viral charge, making it up to 70% more contagious than other known strains of COVID-19.
For this reason, 37 countries so far have completely banned flights originating in the UK from landing in their territories.
Current situation in the UK (December 22)
As of December 24, there are 2.15M confirmed COVID cases and 69,051 reported deaths. 3rd wave of the spread is very infections and currently UK has between 35k-40K cases everyday.
EU ambassadors to agree on a response plan
EU representatives are scheduled to meet later today to discuss a joint strategy to face the spread of the VUI-202012/01 across European borders.
The countries’ original response of banning flights from the UK was meant to be temporary and now the EU ambassadors will need to come up with a, perhaps less drastic, unified plan.
