Скачать или смотреть U.K.'s Javid Concerned New Covid Variant Poses 'Substantial Risk'

A new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa is the “most worrying” yet, a senior U.K. health official said, after the government temporarily banned flights from the region to try to limit its spread.

Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to the U.K. Health Security Agency, told BBC radio the variant, currently known as B.1.1.529, has about 30 mutations “that seem relevant” -- double the number seen in the highly-transmissible delta variant. Fears it could fuel new outbreaks and potentially evade vaccines sparked a wave of selling across global markets on Friday. 

Though no cases of the new variant have been detected in the U.K., Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament on Friday it may pose “substantial risk” to public health. The warning comes at a time when daily coronavirus infections are again surging, with 47,240 reported nationwide on Thursday.

Even so, Javid said the government has no plans yet to tighten pandemic rules including on mask-wearing and other social-distancing measures. Describing it as a “fast-moving” situation, the minister said key characteristics of the variant, including the severity of the illness it causes, are still unknown.

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