Coronavirus: UK records over 60,000 cases

Speaking today, Health Secretary, Matt Hancock admitted his concern of the new strain of the virus as it is much harder to detect than the one which was discovered in the South East of England. The South African strain, named 501.V2, does not respond to current testing like the mutation detected in Kent. Using PCR tests, scientists look for three genes of coronavirus.

Of the S, N and ORF1ab genes, the strain discovered in Kent has one but the South African virus carries all three which states it is the original coronavirus.

This, therefore, makes it incredibly hard to detect and is thought to spread faster than current mutations.

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading told The Sun: “On that standard PCR, you will not be able to distinguish between the South Africa strain, and the strains that have been doing the rounds for months already.

“That’s why its more difficult to track.

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“They would only pick up the South Africa variant if someone goes for the normal testing procedure because they have symptoms, and they hit that one in ten chance of their strain being sent for sequencing.

“That is the only way the authorities would know about it.

“That’s a slower way, and less refined way, of doing things because there would be a time lag.

“If you have an outbreak of the South Africa strain, you have to wait till you’ve got the sequence data.

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“With the PCR data with the Kent strain, you get a much quicker picture of what is happening.”

Such is the uncertainty surrounding the strain, it is unclear whether it will be resistant to the vaccines being rolled out.

Although Professor Shabir Madhi, who has led trials for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in South Africa stated it was unlikely, he said there was some concern the new strain may be more resistant to current vaccines.

Austria, Norway and Japan have all detected cases of the strain from South Africa.

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Currently, two cases have been reported in London and the North West of England.

The UK has imposed a ban on direct flights from South Africa and has placed restrictions on flights to the country.

Anyone who has travelled to or has been in contact with anyone from South Africa, have been ordered to quarantine immediately.

The World Health Organisation has claimed the variant from South Africa has of yet, not shown to be more transmissible to the one discovered in England.

The strain discovered in the South East of England has caused case levels to skyrocket in the country.

Today, the UK reported 60,916 new cases of the virus – the highest ever recorded.

Hospitalisations increased by 3,075 with 23,857 patients currently in hospital.

In terms of hospitalisation, the UK has not seen numbers this high since the first wave of the virus.

This is why the Government announced a lockdown for England which will last until February.

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