UK Health Minister Matthew Hancock said a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has been discovered in the country, spreading faster than the original form, reports the Newsweek edition.
New tighter restrictions will be imposed in London and several other areas in the south of England following a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, Hancock said. However, it is not yet known how many people are infected with the new strain, and how this type of coronavirus has contributed to the increase in cases of infection. There is also no evidence that it is more deadly than known strains of SARS-CoV-2 and is resistant to vaccines. At the same time, it is more easily transmitted from person to person and therefore more contagious.
In total, about a thousand cases of infection with a new strain of the virus were recorded, which was discovered in 60 different regions of the country. Most cases are diagnosed in the south of England.
New, tougher restrictions will affect over 10 million people living in London, Essex and Hertfordshire. Indoor and outdoor gatherings will be banned, and bars and pubs will be closed.