WHO “It will take us a few weeks to understand the true impact of the new variant of coronavirus”

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that this Friday will determine if the new variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa, with a high number of mutations, it will be classified as a risk variant, although he clarified that it will take weeks to know the true impact it will have.

SIGHT:

“Preliminary analyzes show that the variant has a large number of mutations that will require further study, and it will take us a few weeks to understand their impact.“Said the WHO spokesperson at a press conference Christian Lindmeierminutes before the expert meeting begins.

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The meeting of the Advisory Group of Experts on the Evolution of Viruses, which is organized from Geneva although some of the participants will connect virtually, analyzes together with South African colleagues the latest data available on the variant, identified for the first time on 11 May. November.

SIGHT:

Despite the few days that have passed, some thirty mutations of the variant have already been found in places such as South Africa itself, Botswana or Hong Kong (China), which has generated concern and the reimposition of restrictions in some European countries on travelers from southern Africa.

Lindmeier declined to comment on whether or not these restrictions are hasty, merely asking governments to adopt “a scientific approach”In risk prevention, based on the recommendations of the WHO Emergency Committee.

SIGHT:

The spokesperson added that for now, given the emergency of this and other possible variants, the individual prevention measures recommended since last year remain valid, including the use of a mask, avoiding large concentrations of people or hand hygiene.

For now, the WHO recognizes four risk variants of the COVID-19, denominated with the Greek letters alpha, beta, gamma and delta, although there are other variants to which it also makes special monitoring.

Until now, the Delta variant, first detected in India, is the predominant one in almost the entire planet, and according to laboratory analysis it is already present in more than 99% of current new cases.

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Deshawn