Mutated Kent coronavirus ‘could cause MORE deaths in England than the first wave’

SAGE advisers have warned that the highly infectious Kent strain of coronavirus could lead to more deaths in 2021 than the 70,000 recorded in 2020, unless the roll-out of the vaccine is accelerated. They said the variant – named B.1.1.7 and thought to be between 50 and 74 per faster spreading than its predecessor – … Read more

Speeding up our Covid-19 jab programme is the only way to beat the mutated virus, experts warn 

The coronavirus vaccine programme must be speeded up, politicians and business leaders said on Wednesday night. Jeremy Hunt led calls to accelerate the roll-out as the pandemic tightened its grip with a fast-spreading new variant. ‘Time is against us with this new strain so we now need a great national effort to turbocharge the vaccination … Read more

Covid England: How the new mutated strain has spread in a fortnight

By David Churchill What has happened to the coronavirus to trigger such concern? A new strain of Covid has developed which is said to spread far faster. A ‘strain’ is a new version of a virus which has genetic mutations. The new strain is a version of Sars-Cov-2, the coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19. … Read more

How the mutated form of Covid has rapidly spread across England over the last fortnight

By David Churchill What has happened to the coronavirus to trigger such concern? A new strain of Covid has developed which is said to spread far faster. A ‘strain’ is a new version of a virus which has genetic mutations. The new strain is a version of Sars-Cov-2, the coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19. … Read more

Covid UK: Children are more likely to catch mutated new strain

Children may be more at-risk of catching the new mutated coronavirus variant than any previous strains, Government advisers today claimed.  Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist of Imperial College London and member of No10’s advisory group NERVTAG, said there was a ‘hint’ children – who have barely been affected by the pandemic so far – were … Read more

Children are more likely to catch mutated strain of Covid

Children may be more at-risk of catching the new mutated coronavirus variant than any previous strains, Government advisers today claimed.  Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist of Imperial College London and member of No10’s advisory group NERVTAG, said there was a ‘hint’ children – who have barely been affected by the pandemic so far – were … Read more

Italy becomes fourth country to spot mutated Covid virus in British traveller

By David Churchill What has happened to the coronavirus to trigger such concern? A new strain of Covid has developed which is said to spread far faster. A ‘strain’ is a new version of a virus which has genetic mutations. The new strain is a version of Sars-Cov-2, the coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19. … Read more

Mutated strain of coronavirus found in mink in Denmark poses ‘very low risk’

There is a ‘very low’ risk of mink spreading a mutant form of coronavirus to people living in the UK, Public Health England has insisted. Fears over a newly-evolved strain of Covid have been raised after Denmark said one — dubbed ‘Cluster 5’ — was less responsive to antibodies, which could render a vaccine useless … Read more

Israel feared seventh country hit by mutated Covid strain spread by mink, as three people tested

Israel is feared to be the latest country to be hit by the mutated strain of coronavirus spread by mink in Denmark. The Israeli Health Ministry is testing three citizens who recently returned from the Scandinavian country where the new infection is spreading from animals to humans.  If positive, Israel could join the US, Italy, … Read more

Mutated coronavirus found in Danish mink has now spread to 214 people as lockdown announced

The mutated form of coronavirus found in Danish mink has now spread to more than 200 people as Denmark’s Prime Minister warned the strain ‘could pose a risk that future vaccines won’t work’.  The country announced more than 280,000 people in the north Jutland region will now be in lockdown amid growing fears over the … Read more