© AFP
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The British are very afraid of the Indian corona variant. According to experts, the variant may be 50 percent more contagious than the already highly contagious British variant, and there could be another 1,000 deaths and 10,000 hospitalizations per day in the UK by the end of July. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hastily convened a press conference on Friday. “The announced relaxation may be jeopardized.”
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Source: belga, the guardian, bbc news
Yesterday at 8:27 PM–
Infection rates in the UK are generally very low at the moment. But the number of confirmed infections with the Indian variant has doubled in the past week from 520 to 1,313, according to data from Public Health England.
Figures that, according to the British expert group SAGE, could rise sharply. “Without the new variant, the third wave in July and August would probably have been better than expected. Possibly with 4,000 to 11,000 corona deaths, but nothing on the scale of the devastating wave we had in the winter, ”it read Friday evening. “However, if the Indian variant is still 50 percent more contagious than the British variant – which is a realistic possibility according to our research – then we could go back to 1,000 deaths and 10,000 hospital admissions per day by the end of July.”
Acceleration of second vaccine
And that is why we are now intervening. The United Kingdom will accelerate the delivery of the second dose of vaccine for people over 50 and those with underlying conditions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday. In concrete terms, the interval will be reduced from twelve to eight weeks. “We believe this variant is more contagious than the previous one,” said Johnson.
“If the variant is only slightly more contagious, we can open up the economy further as planned. If, on the other hand, the variant is much more contagious, then we will have to make hard choices, ”said the British Prime Minister.
Phase 3 of the easing, starting next Monday, will continue anyway. From then on, the British are allowed to meet outside again with a maximum of thirty people, six people or two families can meet together again inside and the catering industry can open up completely again. “But if we are not careful, this could have an effect on the easing of June (Phase 4 would normally start on June 21, ed.).”
From that date, nightclubs would also be allowed to open their doors again and other restrictions would also be relaxed. It remains to be seen whether that will actually happen.
Germany puts Great Britain on risk list again
Due to the advance of the Indian variant, the German government will place Great Britain on the list of risk countries again from Sunday. This is reported by the leading Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
Travelers arriving to Germany from Great Britain must take a corona test within 48 hours and quarantine for 10 days, unless they can present a negative test, have been vaccinated or prove they have already contracted the virus. (mtm)
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