By Sheila Mckenzie-
A second variant of a more transmissible variant of the coronavirus identified in the Uk is from South Africa, according to reports.
In both cases, the subjects are contacts of people who travelled from South Africa over the last few weeks, Matt Hancock confirmed at a Downing Street news conference today.
Those with the new variant have been quarantining in accordance with the rules, and restrictions on passengers travelling from South Africa has already been imposed.
Public Health England surveillance on Tuesday identified two people who contracted the virus after being in contact with separate travellers from South Africa. One case is in London, the other in the north-west.
The variance from South Africa will lead to new quarantine rules for recent visitors from South Africa.
The news comes as the UK government figures revealed that 744 more people have died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19, the highest number since 29 April. The statistics makes worrying reading, although the 28 day rule for determining coronavirus rules was established this summer, after April.
Health experts and researchers are in a rush to establish as much information as possible about the new variant which has aggravated an already horrifying situation of coronavirus, which has affected most parts of the globe.
Further Cases
A further 39,237 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus were also highlighted today, the highest daily figure during the pandemic – although this is partly due to much wider testing.
Dr Susan Hopkins (pictured) from Public Health England, said the new variant recently discovered in the UK, and the one found in South Africa, are “very different” and are “different mutations”.
“Both of them look like they’re more transmissible,” she added.
There were a further 39,237 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus, the highest daily figure during the pandemic . The high numbers were also partly due to much wider testing.
Dr Susan Hopkins added that the new variant recently discovered in the UK, and the one found in South Africa, are “very different” and are “different mutations”.
“Both of them look like they’re more transmissible,” she added.
Dr Hopkins told the Number 10 press conference: “We have more evidence on the transmission for the UK variant, because we’ve been studying that with great detail with academic partners”.
Prior to knowledge of the second variant, permission had been given for the British public to mix with three households this Christmas, although Boris Johnson was specific that the three household number was a minimum, not a target. The new variant completely changed the whole picture, the guidance changed to just one household mixing for Christmas.
A further national lockdown is now highly expected in the new year, while several parts of the Uk are due to be raised to tier 4 before the new year.