New variant of virus means we must be even more vigilant
IF there’s one thing that the pandemic has taught us, it is that nothing in a crisis can be planned with any certainty. And Saturday afternoon’s Downing Street press conference showed exactly how fast things can change.
One day people are organising their festive travel arrangements and present-buying, meal portions and household ‘bubbles’. The next, millions in the South East are forced into the new Tier Four lockdown, with the rest of England told household mixing promised over five days is being cut to just Christmas Day.
Many will be deeply disappointed, as this special time of year offered a chance for friends and family kept apart by coronavirus restrictions to finally come together, even if briefly.
Some will criticise the Government for raising hopes. It was always a gamble that, after the November lockdown, Covid infections would remain under control long enough for everyone to indulge in festive gettogethers and enjoy a well-deserved break following prolonged social isolation, curbs on individual liberty and the monotony of months of restrictions.
But important new information that forced the hand of Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock only emerged in recent days – and has unfortunately cast a shadow over the national mood at a time when spirits had been lifted by the promise that, with the roll-out of vaccinations, we were gaining the upper hand in the battle to beat the virus.
The significant new data is the discovery of a new variant of coronavirus which is proving to be even more problematic than the original strain, given it can be passed more easily between people.
Scientists on the Government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group have concluded the new mutant strain, identified by the Public Health England laboratories at Porton Down, is spreading more quickly. Dr Susan Hopkins, of Public Health England, said that, while the new strain had been identified in October from a sample taken in September, it was not until Friday that its higher transmissibility was confirmed.
Faced with the facts, Mr Johnson could not comfortably stick with his original relaxation of the rules over Christmas, and he did the right thing in changing tack, weighing up scientific advice and deciding that public disappointment is better than the tragic cost of turning a blind eye to a new wave of infections sweeping parts of the country with deadly consequences. Given the fast-moving situation, best-laid plans have to be torn up.
Worryingly, Dr Hopkins indicated that the new variant of coronavirus in the South East has spread to all regions of England, even if in smaller numbers. This means we have to redouble our efforts to maintain social distancing, follow well-drilled hygiene advice on hand washing, wear our masks and adhere to the tier regulations.
Scientists tell us that viruses constantly mutate, but the new variant looks to be an unwelcome early Christmas present from this unpleasant disease – just when we seemed to be gaining ground.