New Covid variant may be deadlier than the original
PM warns tougher measures may be needed to stop it entering UK
THE mutant coronavirus variant which emerged in the south of England may be more deadly than the original strain, scientists have warned.
The Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said that while there was still a “lot of uncertainty” around the data, it was a matter “of concern” that as well as spreading more quickly, the mutant strain could also lead to more deaths.
He also told a No 10 news conference that there was some evidence that coronavirus variants which had appeared in South Africa and Brazil may be less susceptible to approved Covid-19 vaccines than the original strains.
Boris Johnson warned that further measures could be required to stop the new variants entering the UK following the decision to suspend all the Government’s travel corridors.
It came as another 12 deaths of people who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 were announced in Northern Ireland.
A further 865 positive cases of the virus were also confirmed yesterday. There were 828 Covid-positive inpatients in hospitals — 72 are being treated in intensive care.
Some 52 virus-linked deaths were announced in the Republic. In other key developments: Northern Ireland recorded its highest weekly coronavirus death toll since the pandemic began, with 156 fatalities occurring in the week to January 15, statistics showed.
Urgent cancer operations which were cancelled here earlier this week were rescheduled.
First Minister Arlene Foster accused opponents of the armed forces’ involvement in coronavirus care here of intolerance.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said talks are ongoing between the UK and Ireland around a “two-island” solution to mandatory quarantining.
Analysis from the Office for National Statistics suggested one in 60 people in Northern Ireland had Covid-19 between last week.
In a gloomy update yesterday afternoon, the PM spoke of the potential impact of the new variants of the virus.
Mr Johnson said: “We may need to go further to protect our borders. We don’t want to put that (efforts to control the virus) at risk by having a new variant come back in.”
Sir Patrick suggested the new variant could increase the mortality rate by nearly a third for men in their 60s who have Covid-19.
Northern Ireland’s hospitals, meanwhile, braced for what could be the worst weekend of the Covid surge.
Unprecedented pressures had led to urgent cancer operations being cancelled this week. Some 275 people had procedures scrapped in one week as medics focused on tackling the pandemic.
But yesterday the Department
of Health said these had been rescheduled.
A regional approach is being adopted to services and an extra 100 military personnel drafted in to support nurses tackling Covid-19.
Mrs Foster thanked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for the aid yesterday — while criticising those who opposed the move.
She said: “I was greatly saddened by those who have criticised this deployment for intolerant political reasons.
“They have placed their ideology before the needs of patients.
“That is an appalling indictment on their motivations in public life.”
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said Ireland’s health minister Stephen Donnelly had been talking to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock about a “two-island” solution to mandatory quarantining.
However, Mr Martin added that Ireland was “not in a position to seal the border”.