In recent developments, a new strain of coronavirus has been detected in countries across Europe. With over 1,000 cases of the variant discovered in the UK, researchers are confused whether to determine if the variant, named as VUI-202012/01, which refers to variant under investigation, falls into which category or if it represents an increased health risk especially now when several nations have begun administering the COVID-19 vaccines among people.
On Monday, December 21, India suspended flights from and to the UK amidst these new concerns with regards to the fresh COVID-19 strain. Moreover, as per reports, this variant is the result of multiple mutations in the spike protein of the novel coronavirus, as well as mutations in other genomic regions of the RNA virus.
Meanwhile, BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin on December 21 informed that the variant detected in the UK has nine mutations, instead of just one which is usually common. However, he also added that the immune response by the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech can deal with the new variant.
Maharashtra, on the other hand, on Monday, December 21, reported 2,834 fresh cases of the coronavirus. According to the State Health Department figures, the active cases have dipped below the 60,000 mark to reach 59,469 while the total case tally stands at 18,99,352. In view of the situation, amidst the surge in cases and the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19, the state government on Monday, December 21, decided to impose night curfew from December 22 in municipal corporation limits in the state.
According to sources, the night curfew will remain in force from 11 pm to 6 am every day till January 5. This announcement came after CM Uddhav Thackeray chaired a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in the state and implementation of preventive measures to curb the spread of the contagious disease.
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