South Africa is competing to learn more about new coronavirus variants that are more contagious and may be more resistant to vaccines.
So far, only 53 cases related to the B.1.1.529 strain have been confirmed in the country, but there are concerns that the actual number may be much higher.
COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) It is spreading rapidly among the youth of Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous state.
And nationwide, infections have “exponentially increased” in the last five days or so.
Until recently, South Africa had relatively low levels of infection, typically recording about 200 confirmed cases per day.
But the daily number of coronavirus Infections increased rapidly over 1,200 on Wednesday alone and almost doubled to 2,465 on Thursday.
Experts believe that many of these cases are “likely” to be associated with this variant.
In Houten, it is estimated that 90% of new infections may be B.1.1.529 and this strain may be present in eight other states in South Africa.
National scientists are currently trying to determine the extent of its spread, which can take some time.
South Africa’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases said, “Although data are limited, our experts work overtime with all established surveillance systems to understand new variants and potential impacts. I have. “
At a press conference in Johannesburg, Health Minister Joseph Fara warned: “From the experience of the last 21 months or so, we can almost predict how this will work.
“As I said, you can rest assured that people will start moving further in the next few weeks, especially like the Delta starting with Houten, this is all over.”
Professor Triode Riuler, director of the Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa, states that new mutants have a “constellation” of new mutations.
Currently, a team of scientists from seven universities is studying B.1.1.529, and so far there are 100 whole genomes.
British authorities are keen to obtain and test live virus cultures of new variants, which can take four to six weeks.
Only 41% of South African adults are vaccinated, and the number of jabs given daily is relatively low at less than 130,000.
This is well below the government’s goal of 300,000 per day.
But this is not due to lack. They do not “accumulate and stockpile” vaccines because the country actually has to postpone delivery.
“We are vaccinated faster than we can currently use,” said Nicholas Crisp, deputy director of the National Health Service.
South Africa has a population of 60 million. During the pandemic, it recorded more than 2.9 million COVID cases and 89,000 deaths.
The health minister says it’s too early to say whether the government will impose stricter restrictions in response to this variant.
British experts describe B.1.1.529 as “the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” South Africa is one of the six African countries currently on the Red List of Travel.
World Health Organization experts meet on Friday to evaluate the subspecies classified as monitored variants on Wednesday.
If upgraded to a Variant of Concern, it may be named after the Greek alphabet and may be called Nu.
The number of cases of COVID-19 in South Africa has skyrocketed, with a “high probability” and many associated with new variants.World news
Source link The number of cases of COVID-19 in South Africa has skyrocketed, with a “high probability” and many associated with new variants.World news