The highly infectious mutant coronavirus strain is spreading fast more than expected. A few days after the UK reported multiple cases of the mutated virus, similar coronavirus strains have been discovered in different parts of the world. But the identified variants are entirely different in few countries. A new strain of the coronavirus notoriously called Coronavirus 2.0 is spreading, an advanced and scarier version. The first victim of this mutant variant is the UK where the first case was detected in September.
In less than 50 day period, the total number of Positive cases increased to a quarter of the total. Then, by December, two-thirds of the total infections were of the mutant virus. The infections are still rising, the lockdown is back, travel restrictions has been imposed where international flights have been banned and some countries are preparing themselves for the same. A new strain different from that in UK has been identified in South Africa. But this mutant carries the same mutations and is equally infectious. On December 24, the South African health ministry registered a record 14,305 cases of the new strain mostly younger age group with no symptoms and spreads quickly.
Nigeria has reported yet another variant. But there is a little evidence on whether its more infectious or potent than the original virus. Only evidence is increase in cases, as new variant made cases to increase by 52%. Israel reports three cases of the new UK strain, Denmark, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands in the UK. Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, France also reports the UK variant infection. Six labs across India is conducting genome sequencing tests to detect the presence of the mutant strain in the UK returned Covid 19 positive travellers.
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