New COVID Strain Makes World Anxious, 40 Nations Stop UK Flights: Know All That's Happening

The new coronavirus strain has sent alarm bells ringing across the world as the year ravaged by Covid-19 pandemic comes to end and we enter 2021 with the concern of the mutating virus that spreads at a far greater speed.

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This after UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock had said that the new mutant strain of coronavirus is 'out of control'. Britons have been asked to now stay at home and follow the strictest of coronavirus regulations. They have also been asked to restrict their Christmas celebrations. Residents have been told to limit socialising to their local areas.

Here's what has been happening around the world ever since new strain of COVID has been found:

Over 40 nations banned UK flights

More than 40 countries have so far banned flights from the UK. South Korea, the Philippines and Japan have become the latest countries to suspend flights from the country after several other nations, including India, announced the suspension over worries surrounding the new rapidly spreading coronavirus strain. Japan has said it will ban non-Japanese people from arriving in the country from UK.

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Vaccine-makers hopeful

British drugmaker AstraZeneca, which is developing one of the top coronavirus vaccines of the world along with Oxford University, has told Reuters the ¡°dose should be effective against the new coronavirus strain. The drugmaker is now studying the impact of the mutation that the virus has undergone. "AZD1222 (AstraZeneca's vaccine candidate) contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein, and the changes to the genetic code seen in this new viral strain do not appear to change the structure of the spike protein," an AstraZeneca spokesperson has told Reuters.

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Pfizer has also said its vaccine will be effective against the new coronavirus strain but further analysis of the mutant virus variant is underway. Experts have said the coronavirus vaccines being developed across the world are likely to be effective against the new virus strain as well.

Experts on the new strain

About the worries over the new virus strain, WHO scientists have said there is no evidence to show that the mutant virus is deadlier. ¡°There¡¯s zero evidence that there¡¯s any increase in severity¡± of Covid-19 from the latest strain, the World Health Organisation¡¯s emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan said.

Many other experts have said the reason behind the latest mutant virus becoming dominant in the UK is because it beats the other strains and spreads faster, thus winning the race with the other strains.

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Meanwhile, India has said the new coronavirus strain hasn¡¯t been seen in the country so far but it is important to remain vigil. However, there is no need to panic, said NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul.

Restrictions in place

The United Kingdom has entered a period of intense restrictions after the new variant was discovered spreading rapidly through the population of London and the southeast and east of England. Most of the country faces "Tier 4" restrictions as Christmas approaches.

The Karnataka government imposed a night curfew in the state till January 2, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Wednesday. The curfew will be in place from 10 pm to 6am. The move is announced to contain the new variant of COVID.

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South Africa too, announced on Monday, that a new variant of the Covid-19 virus is responsible for the current resurgence of the infection. Authorities have identified the variant as '501.V2' and believe that it is dominant among new confirmed cases of coronavirus in South Africa.