Alert sound against new Covid variant found in South Africa

A new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, has alerted the globe. New variant is characterised by a "very unusual constellation" of mutations, The new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, currently been identified as B.1.1.529, has also reportedly spread to Botswana and Hong Kong through travellers from South Africa. So far, the WHO has designated four variants of Covid-19 as 'variants of concern' - Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1) and Delta (B.1.617.2). “This new variant has many, many more mutations, including more than 30 to the spike protein that affects transmissibility,”Tulio de Oliveira, a member of the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa said. The number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa had increased dramatically last week. 

Concerned by fears of a renewed wave of infection, the British government has already banned flights from South Africa and five other countries from the southern part of the continent. It also instructed anyone who recently arrived from those countries to take a Covid-19 test for good measure. Indian government has also issued an alert for the B.1.1.529 variant of the novel coronavirus.  Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to all states and UTs, wrote, "This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel." All international travellers entering India from "at-risk" countries must be subjected to rigorous screening and testing, he added.