Quote:
Originally Posted by TunedOut
The person I listen to the most on Youtube for my Covid information is Dr. Campbell because he makes the information so easy to understand. In his latest video ( Update - YouTube), he was saying that the new UK variant  is not only more contagious but also is causing more symptoms (making people more sick). Yes, the virus is quite serious--it has overwhelmed many hospitals and IMO we are still learning about the long term affects and there could be further mutations (hopefully making it less virulent but it could also become even more dangerous--because the UK variant is more transmissible, it will likely eventually replace the older variant  ). I hope your friend recovers completely.  |
Yes they are learning more about the UK Kent variant. It is far more transmissible which one of the reasons why infection rates are taking longer to drop here despite lockdown. It seems to invade cells quicker too and it is sadly slightly more likely to be fatal. In the UK I believe it is replacing the other version which is how viruses evolve I guess.
For other countries I absolutely think border controls are essential to try to limit the variant spreading further.
I've just been reading professor Jonathan Van-Tam saying we should start to see the effects of vaccination over next few weeks. We now have 10% vaccinated at least once. They know the vaccine protects against getting seriously sick but it's suspected it will also make it less transmissible although that is yet unknown. If that's the case we may see a significant drop in infection and hospitalization. I hope so.
It's been scary knowing the NHS has been on the brink of being overwhelmed this month.
Thanks for your well wishes for my friend, she has been quite sick but her husband much less so.