New South African Covid Variant Begins To Spread

The number of cases of a new variant of the Covid 19 virus is beginning to rise across the UK. The variant known as Omicron, which first originated in South Africa, is now spreading across the UK and Europe. The initial cases in the UK were detected on Saturday in Brentford, Essex and Nottingham. Contact tracing is now taking place to try and discover the source of the out break and ensure that it doesn't spread too far and infect too many people.

Following the news on Saturday, six new cases of the variant have been identified in Scotland which includes four cases in Lanarkshire and two cases in Greater Glasgow and Hyde. Some of the cases identified have no history of travelling to South Africa which indicates that the new variant is now beginning to spread naturally through out the UK.

Experts have warned that the development with the new variant is worrying but expected as the virus comes in to the community and begins to spread from person to person. People are being urged to get their Covid 19 booster as soon as possible to ensure that they top up their immunity and keep their protection against the virus as up to date as possible.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney told BBC's Good Morning Scotland: "On some of the cases we are aware that there is no travel history involved.

"So what that tells us is that there must be a degree of community transmission of this particular strain of the virus."

The minister said it was too early to say whether Christmas plans would have to be reconsidered.

"We are in a much stronger position because of the vaccination that we have within our society," he added.

"Members of the public have taken part tremendously in the vaccination programme, so we do have very high levels of protection within the population.

"It's what we need to do beyond that is relevant for the next period ahead."

According to the initial findings, it seems like the new variant of the virus spreads quicker and is much more transmissible than the previous variant Delta.

Initial findings by researchers in Rome suggest that the new Omicron variant has forty three spike protein mutations compared to the Delta variant which only has eighteen mutations. This enables it to invade cells much more easily which means the virus will spread much more quickly.

Following the news of the new variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson took part in a briefing from Downing Street in which he gave the British public the news and laid out a new set of restrictions to try and prevent the spread of the new variant as much as possible.

The new restrictions include:

 Face coverings will once again be compulsory in shops and on public transport

All contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of a person's vaccination status

Anyone entering the UK will require a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival and will need to self-isolate until they have a negative result

Pupils at secondary schools are being "strongly advised" to wear face coverings in communal areas. The guidance also applies to staff and visitors at all schools and childcare settings.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - the UK's vaccine advisory body - is to announce whether the booster vaccines should be rolled out "to as wide as group as possible", and whether to reduce the time between the second dose and booster

The PM said the new rules were temporary and would be reviewed after three weeks.

Scientists are keeping an eye out to see how cases of the new variant adjust with the new restrictions or whether they will need to be tightened further. There is much concern as the new variant of the virus is now radically different to the original one which appeared from Wuhan in China.

People are being encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible and get the booster when they are eligible. This is usually six months after you have your second dose. There have however been fears that the new variant of the virus may be able to evade the protection which is given from vaccinations to people, in which case a new vaccine will have to be developed to help combat it.

Former UK Chief Scientific Advisor Chris Whitty has pleaded with the British public to get vaccinated and ensure that they have as much protection as possible against the new variant.

He said: "Looking at the vaccination programme, we're continuing to see increases in the number of people coming forward for their first vaccine and also people coming forward for their second vaccine as part of their primary course.

"That is absolutely essential. Anybody who is not vaccinated, can I please strongly encourage you to do so.

"The rates are already very high with Delta and we now have this new risk coming through."