Prime Minister Holds Cabinet Meeting as Scientists Warn New Variant “The Real Cause of Concern”

Government advisers believe that new variants of COVID-19 will spread faster than previous strains, and that relaxation of public attitude risks offsetting the benefits of vaccination deployments in the coming months. Warned the minister, Sky News understands.

It is expected that the SAGE Advisory Group will be convened on Monday to develop a set of recommendations on how to tighten Tier 3 restrictions in the light of increasing infectivity of new strains.

However, according to telegraph and sun reports, senior ministers met at midnight on Friday to discuss whether action needed to be taken more quickly.

Both newspapers suggest that this may include travel restrictions imposed on Southeastern and London, and a press conference suggests that such measures could come as early as Saturday. I will announce it.

The government has not yet responded to the report.

Sir Jeremy Farah, director of the Wellcome Trust and a member of the Emergency Science Advisory Group (SAGE), said today that the new stock is “the real cause of concern” and “it is important to act urgently now. I warned.

Sir Jeremy tweeted on Saturday. “The new species of COVID-19 is a concern and a real cause of concern and special attention. Research is underway for further understanding, but it is important to act urgently now. Nowhere in the UK and the world. You shouldn’t. Like many countries, the situation is vulnerable. “

“The impact of increased interactions during the festival is of great concern,” he said, amid a surge in new variants and infections.

From December 23rd to 27th, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland can have up to 3 households, but Wales is limited to 2 households.

Sir Jeremy said that the pace of progress achieved in vaccines, treatment and diagnosis is “amazing” and should be praised, but “we must be realistic. This pandemic is not over. I haven’t changed the fundamentals yet. “

“We may be in an unpredictable stage,” he added.

It is understood that government scientific advisers have not seen evidence that new strains cause more serious illness or are resistant to current vaccines.

However, there are concerns that the announcement of effective vaccines in recent weeks may have adversely affected compliance with regulations, including self-quarantine requirements.

Members of the Scientific Advisory Board have previously told Sky News that the UK’s existing tier system did not appear to be effective in preventing the increase in cases and predicted that stricter measures would be needed.

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Professor John Edmonds said, “I think we need to consider these measures and perhaps strengthen them. We will do so. It’s scary to say, but we’re in a pretty difficult position.” Said.

Identification of “new variant” COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears -It is believed to be causing faster spread in the southeastern part- Health Minister Matt Hancock announces this week.

Hancock told the House of Commons that more than 1,000 strains were found “mainly in southern England.”

He said the new variant was spreading faster than the existing strain Coronavirus And it is believed to be contributing to a “very rapid and exponential rise” in incidents throughout the Southeast.

However, he tried to downplay fear and said there was no evidence that the new variant would not respond to the COVID-19 vaccine currently being deployed nationwide.

“Currently, there is no suggestion that this mutant is likely to cause serious illness,” he said.

The Minister of Health said the new rapid rate of spread may mean that this variant will become the most dominant in the country.

“The best way to explain this is to imagine a giant oak tree and then a small branch that breaks from that tree, and that branch becomes the main trunk and main artery of the tree.” He explained.

He added that government scientists are studying new variants at the Porton Down facility.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said he could not immediately comment on reports of the possibility of urgent tightening of restrictions.

Johnson said on Friday that he hopes England does not have to enter the third blockade after Christmas, as many experts have warned that it is possible.