The United Kingdom has a denser average population of 727 per square mile, compared to 93 in the United States. This can make population trends, including virus break outs faster to trace. Therefore, it’s important to understand what the UK variant of coronavirus reveals. That’s because it is quite likely to arrive in North America too.
No Big Concerns in What UK Variant of Coronavirus Reveals
The new variant is spreading faster in some parts of the south of England. That’s understandable, because London, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire have relatively dense populations. The current case count is just over 1,000. But agencies are taking ‘swift and decisive’ action to control it according to UK chief medical officer.
However, the health secretary believes ‘there is nothing to suggest the variant causes worse disease. Or that vaccines would no longer work’. The new variant has changes or mutations to the spike protein of the virus. This is the part of the virus that infects human cells, and which COVID vaccines target.
Let’s Not Be Hysterical Birmingham Expert Advises
Prof Alan McNally told UK BBC news channel ‘Let’s not be hysterical. It doesn’t mean it’s more transmissible or more infectious or dangerous. It’s important to keep a calm and rational perspective’ he said on what the UK variant of coronavirus reveals.
An article in UK tabloid Daily Mail on December 16, 2020 suggests the new strain has ‘17 changes’. However, there’s no indication this is significant in itself from a human health perspective. And we believe Prof Alan McNally’s advice to stay calm is more balanced.
This new knowledge is further evidence of the skills our scientists have accumulated in the past year. We salute them for the long hours they work, and the tireless dedication of our first responders and health workers.
Related
Anatomy of a Virus in the Simplest Terms
How Different COVID Vaccine Types Work
Preview Image: COVID Spike Protein
