Questions About the U.K.’s <br />Mutated COVID-19 Strain:, Answered.<br />A new, potentially more contagious strand of COVID-19 has<br />been identified in the U.K. and is causing worldwide panic. .<br />The variant, known as VUI-202012/0, has been linked<br />to a recent surge of COVID-19 cases in England. .<br />Here are answers to six pressing questions you might<br />have about the mutated COVID-19 strain. .<br />1. What is a variant?, According to the CDC,<br />a variant occurs when a virus’s<br />genetic structure changes.<br />Viruses mutate over time and variants are common<br />and trackable, as they carry a genetic fingerprint. .<br />2. Where did it originate<br />and how did it take hold?, According to the WHO and PHE,<br />the variant first emerged in southeast<br />England in September. .<br />Multiple experts think the variant was amplified<br />due to a superspreader event. This means that<br />human behavior may have caused the latest spike<br />in cases, not higher transmissibility. .<br />3. What countries have<br />been affected so far? , According to the WHO, the variant<br />has already been detected in Denmark,<br />the Netherlands, Australia and Italy.<br />4. Is it more deadly? , Chris Whitty, England's chief medical<br />officer, has said there is “no evidence” to<br />suggest the new variant is more deadly. .<br />Multiple experts have pointed out virus mutation typically<br />means more transmissibility and decreased mortality. .<br />5. Will the vaccine<br />work against it? , Whitty stressed on Saturday that<br />current vaccines should still work<br />against the new COVID-19 variant. .<br />Moncef Slaoui, head of Operation Warp Speed, echoed<br />his assurance on Sunday, saying there hasn’t been “a single<br />variant that would be resistant to the vaccine.” .<br />6. What measures are being<br />taken to contain it? , Large areas of England have been<br />put under strict COVID-19 restrictions<br />to reduce the virus’s spread. .<br />Dozens of countries across Europe and beyond<br />have also announced travel bans on the U.K.
