Scientists fight to check the spread of the new variant Covid

Millions of people in the UK are in the strictest coronavirus restrictions, fearing that new variants may be accelerating the spread of the disease.

Boris Johnson was reported to have held an unscheduled ministerial meeting on Friday amid “increasing concerns” about the threat posed by the fastest-growing mutant strain in Southeast England.

Professor Mark Wahlberg, a member of the government’s Emergency Science Advisory Group (Sage), said it could have “communication benefits.”

“What happens with viruses is that they always mutate naturally, and what’s likely to work is to increase infection,” he told BBC 2 Newsnight.

“I know this is a new variant. It’s seen in other countries, but it seems to be quite popular. This suggests that it has the advantage of transmission.

“Scientists are working very hard to figure out what’s going on, but it’s certainly possible that this will be transmitted more easily.

“It will make social distance even more important.”

Downing Street did not comment on reports of new travel restrictions in southeastern England among the measures being considered by the Minister.

However, the conference will take place as much of the region follows London and most of Essex and Hertfordshire have entered the strictest Tier 3 restrictions earlier this week.

The Kent NHS has announced that it will suspend non-urgent hospital procedures as it was treating twice the number of patients at the peak of the first wave in April.

Meanwhile, according to Sage’s latest figures, the number of reproducible coronavirus infections (R-values) across the UK is estimated to have risen from 1.1 to 1.2, indicating that the spread of the disease is accelerating. Means

On Friday, Johnson refused to rule out the possibility of a third blockade of Britain in the New Year, fearing that it could rise further if Christmas restrictions were relaxed.

“We very much want to be able to avoid that, but in reality, infection rates have increased significantly over the past few weeks,” he said during his visit to Bolton. Told the reporters.

In Scotland, health minister Jean Freeman said the post-Christmas blockade option “remains at the table,” but Northern Ireland and Wales are preparing for a new blockade after the festival.

Sir Mark said the country is in a “serious situation” for the New Year.

“At this point, the number of infections is very high. It is rising very rapidly in London, southeastern England,” he said.

“Even in some countries where infection is controlled, the cases remain stubbornly high, putting the NHS under great pressure.

“We enter January in a very serious situation that requires very strong measures to reduce social distance. If the virus is changing, it becomes even more essential.”

The UK’s latest hierarchy change, which came into effect on Saturday at 0:01 am, means that 68% of the UK’s population now has 38 million people living in Tier 3.

Areas moving to the top are Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterbara, Hertfordshire as a whole, Surrey, East Sussex, Waverly, Hastings, Rosa, Hampshire’s Portsmouth, Gosport, Havant. is.

Bristol and North Somerset moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2, and Herefordshire moved to Tier 1, but the county’s director of public health expressed concern about mitigation.

Elsewhere in the UK, Northern Ireland will have a six-week blockade starting December 26, curbing an increase in cases. This limits only non-essential retail and contact service closures and take-out of the hospitality sector.

Wales will enter its third complete blockade from 28 December in a “sustainable rise in coronavirus”.