New Covid strain, tighter curbs in UK: What we know so far

London - PM Johnson reverses plans to ease rules over Christmas

By Reuters

Published: Sat 19 Dec 2020, 11:10 PM

Last updated: Sat 19 Dec 2020, 11:26 PM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tough new restrictions and social distancing measures for London and nearby areas on Saturday in an attempt to slow the spread of a new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus.

Flowing are details of a new coronavirus variant that has been identified in the United Kingdom

* The new variant is thought to have first occurred in mid-September in London or Kent, in the southeast of England.

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* UK analysis suggests it may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the old variant, which could increase the reproduction “R” rate by 0.4.

* There is no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness.

* There is no evidence suggesting vaccines will be any less effective against the new variant.

* The new variant contains 23 different changes, many of them associated with alterations in a protein made by the virus. Vallance said this was an unusually large number of changes.

* It has variants in areas of the virus that are known to be associated with how the virus binds to cells and enters cells.

* The variant has spread quickly in London, the southeast and east of England, becoming the dominant form of the virus in these areas.

* In London, 62 per cent of cases were due to the new variant in the week of December 9. That compared to 28 per cent three weeks earlier.

* In London, the overall infection rate doubled in the last week.

* In areas where the new variant was dominant, hospital admission rates were rising quickly and previously agreed social restrictions were no longer strong enough.

* Vallance said he thought the new variant may be in other countries as well but might have started in the UK.

* The UK submitted its findings to the World Health Organization on Friday night.

Following is a summary of the new restrictions.

New Tier 4

* London and parts of the south east and east of England currently in the highest Tier 3 category will enter a new Tier 4 level of restrictions, roughly equivalent to England’s lockdown in November.

* Residents in Tier 4 areas must stay at home, apart from limited exemptions.

* Non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities, and personal care services must close.

* People must work from home if possible, but may travel to work if necessary, for example in construction and manufacturing.

* People should not enter or leave Tier 4 areas and residents must not stay overnight away from home.

* Individuals can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public space.

* Communal worship can continue to take place.

* The measures will take effect from Sunday morning.

* A next formal review of the tiers system is due to take place on Dec. 30.

Travel

* The government has asked people across the United Kingdom to stay local and consider whether they need to travel abroad.

* People in Tier 4 areas will not be permitted to travel abroad apart from limited exceptions, such as for work.

Christmas

* People in Tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household, but “support bubbles” will remain in place for those at particular risk of loneliness or isolation.

* Across the rest of the UK, rules allowing up to three households to meet will be limited to Christmas Day only, rather than the five days previously set out.

* There will be no relaxation on Dec 31, as previously announced.