Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
The super-mutant covi variant B.1.1.529 actually originates from Botswana, not South Africa. It will be named "Nu".
News (2)
Covi29, common name for B.1.1.529 and Nu
StayGate is addressing B.1.1.529, Nu as Covi29 because to the people not conversant in Greek, "Nu" has meaning in Chinese. It may mean slave.
News (3) to (9) / Reporters : Tom Pyman and Connor Boyd, Daily Mail
News (3)
The UK suspends flights from 6 African countries over Covi29
Sajid Javid on 25 November 2021 sounded the alarm over a new 'worst-ever' super-mutant covi variant that will make vaccines at least 40 per cent less effective - forcing flights to be banned from South Africa and five other countries.
In response, the Health Secretary announced that flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe are suspended from midday Friday (26 November 2021) and all six countries are added to the red list.
The variant - which could be named 'Nu' by the World Health Organization in the coming days - has caused an 'exponential' rise in infections in South Africa and has already spread to three countries and regions – including Hong Kong and Namibia. Covi29 first emerges in Botswana.
News (4)
Covi29 has more than 30 mutations
Experts explained earlier how the B.1.1.529 variant has more than 30 mutations – the most ever recorded in a variant and twice as many as Delta – that suggest it could be more jab-resistant and transmissible than any version before it.
News (5)
No cases in UK yet but prevention is better than infection
No cases have been detected in the UK so far but everyone who has returned from South Africa in the past 10 days will be contacted and asked to take a test.
At the moment, around 500 and 700 people are travelling to the UK from South Africa each day, but it is expected this figure could increase as the festive period begins.
Mr Javid said, "The early indication we have of this variant is it may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective against it.
"Now to be clear, we have not detected any of this new variant in the UK at this point in time. But we've always been clear that we will take action to protect the progress that we have made.
"So what we will be doing is from midday tomorrow (26 November) we will be suspending all flights from six, southern African countries and we will add in those countries to the travel red list.
"Those countries are South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana. We will be requiring anyone that arrives from those countries from 4 am on Sunday to quarantine in hotels.
"If anyone arrives before then they should self-isolate at home and take a PCR test on day two and day eight. If anyone has arrived from any of those countries over the last 10 days, we would ask them to take PCR tests."
The minister added, "Our scientists are deeply concerned about this variant. I'm concerned, of course, that's one of the reasons we have taken this action today."
Asked what the situation would mean for the UK over the coming weeks, with Christmas approaching, Mr Javid said,: 'We've got plans in place, as people know, for the spread of this infection here in the UK and we have contingency plans - the so-called Plan B.
"But today's announcement, this is about a new variant from South Africa - it's been detected in South Africa and Botswana - and this is about being cautious and taking action and trying to protect, as best we can, our borders."
News (6)
South African scientists concerned about jump in Covi29 infections
South African scientists, meanwhile, add that they are 'concerned by the jump in evolution in this variant'.
He said that more work was needed to understand how concerning the variant is, adding, "From what we do know there's a significant number of mutations, perhaps double the number of mutations that we have seen in the Delta variant.
"That would suggest that it may well be more transmissible and the current vaccines that we have may well be less effective.'"
The variant has not yet been given the title 'variant of concern' in the UK, but one senior UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) expert said, "This is the worst variant we have seen so far."
News (7)
Over 59 confirmed Covi29 cases reported from South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana
Only 59 confirmed cases have been identified in South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana.
The variant has over 30 mutations - around twice as many as the Delta variant (Covi72) - which could potentially make it more transmissible and evade the protection given by prior infection or vaccination.
The expert whose modelling helped instigate the first coronavirus lockdown said that the decision to impose travel restrictions was 'prudent'.
Professor Neil Ferguson, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said, 'The B.1.1.529 variant has an unprecedented number of mutations in the spike protein gene, the protein which is the target of most vaccines.
"There is therefore a concern that this variant may have a greater potential to escape prior immunity than previous variants.
"It is also concerning that this variant appears to be driving a rapid increase in case numbers in South Africa. The Government's move to restrict travel with South Africa is therefore prudent.
"However, we do not yet have reliable estimates of the extent to which B.1.1.529 might be either more transmissible or more resistant to vaccines, so it is too early to be able to provide an evidence-based assessment of the risk it poses."
Experts from the UKHSA have been advising ministers on the issue, with a number of scientists expressing serious concern over the variant due to the significant number of mutations in the spike protein.
News (8)
Spike protein of Covi29 different from that of Wuhan strain
One senior scientist said, "One of our major worries is this virus spike protein is so dramatically different to the virus spike that was in the original Wuhan strain, and therefore in our vaccines, that it has a great cause of concern."
Experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) are meeting with South African officials on Friday to assess the evolving situation in the country.
The variant could eventually be given the moniker 'Nu' - with the most concerning variants given named after the Greek alphabet.
The original Red List was reduced to zero nations at the end of last month when the remaining seven countries on it were removed.
No10 had left the door open to bringing back the notorious traffic light travel system with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps saying last month hundreds of hotel rooms were still on standby for quarantine.
The UKHSA said it had been in extensive talks with scientists in South Africa about the new variant but the situation is "rapidly evolving".
Although only 100 cases of the new variant have so far been identified, it is already in three countries, suggesting it is more widespread than the official tally.
News (9)
Cases of Covi29 increasing in Hong Kong and Africa
Two cases have been detected in Hong Kong – both of whom had links to South Africa –three have been picked up in Botswana and the remainder are in South Africa.
But a lack of surveillance on continental Africa may be underestimating the true numbers there, scientists warned.
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