Flights cancelled as UK flags concern over new coronavirus variant

It has mutations that are likely to evade the immune response generated both by prior infection and vaccination, and also mutations associated with increased infectivity.

Lab studies are needed to assess the likelihood of the mutations resulting in greatly reduced vaccine efficacy, scientists said. Officials have advised the government on the need to act swiftly and pre-emptively in case the concerns over the impact of variant are borne out, even though it could take weeks to generate all the information needed about its characteristics.

Earlier on Thursday, South African scientists said they had detected the new Covid-19 variant in small numbers and were working to understand its potential implications. The variant has a"very unusual constellation" of mutations, which is concerning because they could help it evade the body's immune response and make it more transmissible, the scientists told reporters at a news conference.The UK Health Security Agency said that no cases of the variant had been detected in Britain and they were in contact with South African colleagues over their data.

South Africa is its own worst enemy! Reckless communication eg our scientist said it’s horrific etc. then governments, media runs with it like bull with no finesse. Why? Every time we make a poop we want recognition and a certificate?

Has it been proven that the variant originated in South Africa and not brought in from another country?

The government is making things worse so they can come in and look like hero's that saved us.

If SA didn’t have alert scientists unlike other countries, we wouldn’t be here. Perhaps SA should stop revealing all these new discoveries because it ends up counting against the country I am sure there’s other countries where this new variant is prevalent but they’re quite

Quick response to alarming danger, good governance. Our government must consult for weeks before taking such decision.

So much for tourism industry recovering...😑

Keep your Britain and let us keep our S.A 😁

They are going to say HIV causes these Variants now. slowly going there

CyrilRamaphosa implement lockdown level 5 or kill your fellow citizens!

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