The New York Times confirmed the UK mutant virus spread to at least 32 more countries by January 1, 2021. This ‘variant of concern’ also known as B.1.1.7, infects people faster that earlier versions of the coronavirus. We share latest news of this COVID variant named 202012/01 by epidemiologists, in the hope of slowing spread. Because if any of our friends need to travel, then it’s best they know what to expect.
How to Protect Yourself from the New Variant If Traveling
Don’t visit any of the countries where the new variant is present, unless you absolutely, unavoidably must. Use technology to communicate, courier samples and documents, become inventive. Remember, you may ‘achieve more’ than catch the virus if you visit. You may bring it back home with you, and infect vulnerable loved ones and special friends.
Your only defense in an infected country is an abundance of caution. That means doing even more of things you may resent. Things like insisting on your rights to social distancing, mask-wearing, hand hygiene and improved ventilation. For if you do not, then you are even more likely to catch the disease, and possibly far away from home among strangers.
Where COVID Variant 202012/01 Was Active While We Wrote
Our list may already be out of date, because the ripples are still ‘spreading across the pond’. There’s a link to a Wikipedia page at the end of this post we believe the editors keep up to date. The countries where the variant is present beyond UK are already as follows …
Nations you may possibly be considering visiting include Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Iceland, Gibraltar, Singapore, Israel, and Northern Ireland. But those were just the first. Germany, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland and Japan followed, as did Canada, France, Lebanon, Spain and Sweden on December 25.
Since then, the ripples reached Jordan, Norway, Portugal, Finland, South Korea, Chile, India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Malta, Taiwan, China, and Brazil. Moreover, United States (Colorado, California, Florida) and Turkey also now report cases. This COVID variant 202012/01 will no doubt continue to spread. We hope we are better prepared for it this time around.
Related
Fast-Moving Virus Triggers New UK Response
The Twenty-Five Days that COVID Brewed
Preview Image: Waves by Bee Wings
