Written by Eliza Brooks;
As the year 2021 is fast approaching, everyone is hoping for a new start. Everyone wants their normal life back. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still threatening those with low immune systems and morbidities, people are losing hope. And people are losing more hope as the threat of a new Corona virus mutation has surfaced in recent months. The new mutated virus is called Sars-CoV-2. And the question that now remains is: Are we going to go back on hard lockdown this 2021? Read on to know more about the new corona virus variant.
Is Mutation Possible?
Mutation means the virus is changing its genome. It’s a natural way for organisms to evolve and survive. A virus will take a particular amount of time to mutate and get a new genetic characteristic. Something that differentiates it from its previous state.
Moreover, the changes are subtle, and happen monthly. Although some changes can render the virus useless, some might have a more damaging impact in terms of transmissibility .
How Did the COVID-19 Mutate?
While everyone thought the pandemic is slowly easing, the mutation is causing people worldwide a huge scare. Experts report that the new mutated virus is 56 percent more infectious. So how did the COVID-19 mutate?
Although experts say that the new Sars-CoV-2 is exhibiting extremely slow changes, it’s much more transmissible than the COVID-19 variant. However, it showed no higher disease severity. The mutation involved a change in the Sars-CoV-2’s amino acids that surged its protein. IN effect, the Sars-CoV-2 can latch onto host cells.
The new viral genome is called D614G. In some research performed, the genome D614G showed that it attaches to host cells more, thus, increasing its infectivity.
The First Sars-CoV-2 Case
One of the first Sars-CoV-2 strain was discovered in England. This was the reason why the country had seen a surge in Corona virus cases in early December. Experts claim that the new infectious strain is the reason behind the rising Corona virus cases.
On December 23, 2020, the U.K. recorded almost 40,000 new Corona virus cases in a 24-hour time frame. This is said to be the highest number since the start of the pandemic. More and more countries are now banning travelers from the United Kingdom. The country now has around 2.1 million Corona virus cases in total, with almost 70,000 deaths. This makes the United Kingdom one of the most affected countries in Europe by the virus.
The only protocol that can prevent the spread of Corona is to expedite the vaccines. The first shots have already been given. And more edible vaccines such as CBD oil from an online dispensary Canada store are alternatives to strengthening our immune system.
Will the New Sars-CoV-2 Be a Scare in 2021?
Although Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed that the new Sars-CoV-2 variant 70 percent more infectious, researchers say that transmissibility is really not that quite high. However, they also anticipate that more deaths and hospitalizations should be expected in 2021 due to this new mutation. That being said, the new Sars-CoV-2 is definitely something that will yet again put countries into hard lockdowns and more restrictions in 2021. If the new strain is more transmissible than its predecessor, then expect more pressure on front liners and everyone in the year 2021. But as we collectively combat the spread of the Corona virus, let’s never forget the primary weapons in preventing the contraction of this disease – washing hands regularly, wearing masks, and observing social distancing.