14-05-21, 10:42
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re: OMICRON: Scientists Probe Link Between HIV & Variants
SEVERE Outbreak WARNING Over Indian COVID Variant -SURGE Jabs Urged for Hotspots
Indian variant could threaten roadmap - Sharp rise in cases worries scientists
BBC, 14 MAY 2021
Evidence is growing that a troubling “India variant” of the coronavirus is more transmissible than the type first detected in KentI UK that fuelled the UK’s second wave of infections and spread around the world. Scientists have warned the sharp rise in cases of the “India variant” could jeopardise the country’s roadmap out of lockdown
Imperial College London’s latest React study found based on swab tests that between 15 April and 3 May in England coronavirus case rates halved compared with March, but the variant of concern known as B.1.617.2 found in India could be spreading faster, at least in London, than the “Kent variant”, known as B.1.1.7.
It is thought the government’s Sage committee will hold an emergency meeting on the issue today.
With the number of UK cases of a troubling Indian Covid variant having more than doubled to 1,313 in the past week, Boris Johnson admits he's "anxious". The prime minister said yesterday there was nothing to suggest England's planned lockdown easing could not go ahead. However, the government now says it "cannot rule out reimposing economic and social restrictions at a local of regional level" to suppress any variant which escapes the vaccine.
It adds there's "no firm evidence yet" to show that's the case with the variant known as B.1.617.2, or that it has any greater impact on the severity of disease.
As Jim Reed reports, it is causing concern in Bolton, where Public Health England has set up mobile testing units and offered door-to-door testing to 22,000 people in response to a spike in infections.
Assistant director of public health Lynn Donkin says there's a "a picture of widespread community transmission", while doctors report an increase in people arriving at casualty with confirmed or suspected Covid.
Even so, Greater Manchester's Labour Mayor Andy Burnham says he's "very concerned" about the possibility of local restrictions. While the government is considering bringing forward second vaccine jabs in affected areas, Mr Burnham says he'd like younger people to be offered vaccines.
ABC speaks with Australias' High Commissioner to India
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