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<ul><li>BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said that it is highly likely that the company’s COVID-19 vaccine will work against the <keyword id="1092325" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-virus">new virus</keyword> strain, and that they can adapt it in six weeks if necessary. </li><li>Sahin added that the current vaccine would most likely work for the mutant COVID-19 strain as “as the new form of COVID-19 shares 99% of the proteins with the previous iterations.” </li><li>On December 19, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson had spoken about the new variant of the Sars-Cov-2, which scientists believed was “70% transmissible”</li></ul>BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, the man behind the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, has said that it is highly likely that their vaccine will be efficient against the emerging mutant coronavirus strain, and if needed they can adapt it further in six weeks, according to <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/biontech-says-can-make-mutation-beating-coronavirus-vaccine-in-six-weeks-news-agency-afp-2342027">news agency AFP. </a> Sahin said that the current vaccine would most likely work for the mutant COVID-19 strain as “as the new form of COVID-19 shares 99% of the proteins with the previous iterations”. However, according to the AFP report he said that in a scenario that it doesn’t they can create a new vaccine soon. “In principle the beauty of the messenger technology is that we can directly start to engineer a vaccine which completely mimics this new mutation - we could be able to provide a new vaccine technically within six weeks,” he said. Sahin also added that they would need more data to understand the implications of the mutant COVID-19 strain. On December 19, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson had spoken about the new variant of the Sars-Cov-2 which scientists believed was “70% transmissible”. Following the announcement, an immediate lockdown was announced in London. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only approved vaccine in the UK. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) which approved the use of the vaccine in the country said that it could work against the new mutant strain as well. “At this moment there is no evidence to suggest this vaccine will not work against the new variant,” said EMA chief <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/world/no-evidence-pfizer-covid-vaccine-won-t-work-against-new-virus-variant-says-eu-regulator-after-its-approval-11608560670603.html">Emer Cooke</a>. Indian government has suspended all flights from the United Kingdom after reports that the country has seen a new strain of COVID-19, which has been termed as a "<a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/arvind-kejriwal-urges-government-to-ban-all-flights-from-uk-immediately-over-mutant-coronavirus-strain-2341472">super spreader</a>". Nine passengers from the UK who have arrived in India have tested positive for COVID-19 and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology to test <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/uk-passenger-tests-positive-for-covid-19-in-ch[%E2%80%A6]o-niv-to-check-for-mutant-strain/articleshow/79852040.cms">for the mutant strain</a>. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/quarantine-rules-in-mumbai-for-passengers-arriving-from-uk/articleshow/79851557.cms">Quarantine rules in Mumbai for passengers arriving from UK — here’s all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/two-passengers-from-uk-test-positive-for-covid-19-at-kolkata-airport/articleshow/79855281.cms">Two passengers from UK test positive for COVID-19 at Kolkata airport</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhi-airport-six-passengers-on-london-delhi-f[%E2%80%A6]light-test-positive-for-covid-19/articleshow/79854999.cms">Delhi airport: Six passengers on London-Delhi flight test positive for COVID-19</a>

BioNTech chief says they are capable of providing a new vaccine 'in six weeks' for the COVID-19 virus variant

<ul><li>According to a Reuters report, a new study shows that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine could be effective against the new mutant strain of the virus. </li><li>The study which has not been peer-reviewed yet shows that, so far, the vaccine has worked against 16 different mutations. </li><li>Earlier in December 2020, as the reports of the first mutant strain in the UK emerged, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin had said that it is highly likely that their vaccine will be efficient against the emerging mutant coronavirus strain.</li></ul>Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine could be effective against the mutant strain of COVID-19, found in the UK and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the US drugmaker. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/pfizer-biontech[%E2%80%A6]inst-mutation-in-new-coronavirus-variants-study-idUSKBN29D0DX">Reuters</a> reports that the results of the study indicate that the vaccine has been effective against the N501Y mutation of the COVID-19 virus. The study has been conducted by Pfizer along with scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch. However it is important to note that this study has not been peer-reviewed yet. So far, the vaccine has worked against 16 different mutations. “So we’ve now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact. That’s the good news. That doesn’t mean that the 17th won’t,” <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/pfizer-biontech[%E2%80%A6]inst-mutation-in-new-coronavirus-variants-study-idUSKBN29D0DX">said</a> Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizer’s top viral vaccine scientists. However, as the study was conducted on blood samples taken from the people who had been given the vaccine, the findings could be limited. Dormitzer has also admitted that there are concerns about the new variant being more transmissible, which could make the virus escape the antibody neutralisation elicited by the vaccine. Dormitzer, expressed concern over the new variant emerging from South Africa, and added that they will be running additional tests for the efficacy of the vaccine. Earlier in December, 2020, as the reports of the first mutant strain in UK emerged, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, the man behind the <keyword id="10249457" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="pfizer-biontech">Pfizer BioNTech</keyword> COVID-19 vaccine, had said that it is highly likely that their vaccine will be efficient against the emerging mutant coronavirus strain, and if needed they can adapt it further in six weeks, according to <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/biontech-says-can-make-mutation-beating-coronavirus-vaccine-in-six-weeks-news-agency-afp-2342027">news agency AFP. </a> Sahin had said that the current vaccine would most likely work for the mutant COVID-19 strain as “as the new form of COVID-19 shares 99% of the proteins with the previous iterations”.

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could be effective against the new mutant strain of COVID-19

<keyword id="9626040" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covishield-vaccine">Covishield vaccine</keyword> offers protection from double mutant variant of novel coronavirus, shows a study by the <keyword id="395778" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Centre-for-Cellular-and-Molecular-Biology">Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology</keyword> (CCMB). CCMB Director Rakesh K. Mishra termed this as a very preliminary but encouraging result. "Early results using in vitro neutralisation assay show that both convalescent (prior infection) sera and <keyword id="9617748" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covishield">Covishield</keyword> vaccinated sera offer protection against the B.1.617 variant, aka double mutant," he said in a tweet. The CCMB's finding came close on the heels of an announcement by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that Covaxin neutralises multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively works against the double mutant strain as well. Covaxin is India's first indigenous Covid vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR. Covishield has been developed by Oxford-Astrazeneca and is being produced by <keyword id="95879" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword>, <keyword id="2094" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pune">Pune</keyword>. Both Covaxin and Covishield are part of India's ongoing Covid vaccination programme. The 'double mutant' (B.1.617) is said to be responsible for the current surge in Covid-19 cases in <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> and other states in India. Scientists earlier feared that vaccines may not offer protection from 'double mutant' as it may escape the immune system. After the CCMB's latest announcement that Covishield too offers protection from 'double mutant', experts say this again underscore the need for people to get vaccinated. CCMB scientist Divya Tej Sowpati tweeted that the convalescent sera is from September 2020, hence most likely of an infection of a variant which is not B.1.617. He also pointed to misinformation and confusion about the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in India. Though B.1.617 is called 'double mutant', it is characterised by more than 15 mutations. "It got dubbed the 'double mutant' because of two <keyword id="16898" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Spike">spike</keyword> mutations, L452R and E484Q, which were mutations of concern because of their immune escape properties, and possible high infectivity," wrote Sowpati, who is leading Covid-19 genomics at CCMB. According to him, B.1.618 is not the 'triple mutant'. "Triple Mutant: Again, WRONG name, because it has many more defining mutations. Dubbed 'triple' because in addition to the two mutations, it also has V382L in its Spike. This is a sub-lineage of B.1.617, found mainly in MH samples and also a bit in other states." He also clarified that B.1.618 which was first sampled in West Bengal in late October 2020, has nothing to do with B.1.617, except for a couple of shared variants that all SARS-CoV-2 strains have at this point such as D614G. According to him, the main concern with B.1.618 is that it is found in growing proportions in West Bengal and has the spike del145-146 as well as E484K, both of which are known immune escape mutations. The scientist said that the names of "double" and "triple" mutants are wrong and misleading and that they have no connection to the lineage seen in West Bengal. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/worsening-air-quality-amid-the-surging-covid-19-cases-could-add-to-the-pressure-on-indias-healthcare-system/articleshow/82213498.cms">Air pollution is back with a vengeance as industries play catch up — and that could further worsen the COVID-19 pandemic</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/checkout-in-images-how-oxygen-is-being-transported-across-the-country-by-air-rail-and-road/slidelist/82212220.cms">By air, rail and road – how oxygen is being transported across India amidst a severe COVID-19 crisis</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/aiims-icmr-new-guidelines-for-treatment-of-covid-19-patients-with-moderate-case/articleshow/82211333.cms">Simplified: AIIMS, ICMR new guidelines for treatment of patients with ‘moderate’ case of COVID-19</a>

Covishield vaccine also protects from 'double mutant' strain of COVID-19, says CCMB

<keyword id="6355838" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-york">New York</keyword>, New York Governor <keyword id="196530" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andrew-Cuomo">Andrew Cuomo</keyword> said that a laboratory has confirmed the state's first case of the new Covid-19 variant, which was first discovered in Britain last month. "An <keyword id="6569973" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="individual">individual</keyword> from Saratoga County, New York, tested <keyword id="6439681" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="positive">positive</keyword> for the <keyword id="6470566" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="strain">strain</keyword>. The individual had no known travel history," Xinhua news agency quoted the Governor as saying in an official statement on Monday. "It's a gentleman who is in his 60s. He was symptomatic, but he is on the mend and he's doing better. He did not travel recently, so this suggests that it's in the <keyword id="11033" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="community">community</keyword>, it was community spread as opposed to having travelled to the UK," he said in the statement. "If you went to the N. Fox Jewelers store in Saratoga Springs from December 18 through December 24 (2020) you should contact us and get a test immediately. "From a public health point of view now it's about contact tracing, and this UK strain is reported to be 70 per cent more contagious than the normal Covid strain. So, we want to make sure we're doing everything we can to do effective contact tracing on this case," he added. The test was conducted at the Wadsworth Center, the research-intensive public health laboratory of the New York State Department of Health (DoH) located in <keyword id="225528" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Albany">Albany</keyword>. On December 22, 2020, the New York state government announced that the Wadsworth Lab had begun aggressive research of the new, highly contagious Covid-19 strain. Wadsworth and the DoH had signed agreements with six hospitals from across the state to obtain additional samples and is continuing to make arrangements with other hospitals to do the same, it said. Meanwhile on Monday, the Governor announced that the total Covid-19 hospitalisations topped 8,000, reaching 8,251 on Sunday in New York state, up from 7,963 the previous day. Meanwhile, of the 134,360 COVID-19 tests reported on Sunday in the state, 11,209 were positive, or 8.34 per cent of the total, up from 7.98 per cent a day earlier, said Cuomo, adding that the fatalities rose to 170 on Sunday, compared with 138 reported the previous day. The last time that the rate topped 8 per cent was on December 29, 2020, reaching 8.66 per cent, according to Governor. "We have the hospital system all across the state being monitored daily and we're having those hospitals do what they need to do to the greatest extent possible within their capacity to manage the surge, what we call surge and flex," Cuomo was quoted as saying in another statement. As of Tuesday morning, New York state has reported 1,069,073 confirmed coronavirus cases and 38,583 deaths, the highest in the country. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-hdfc-tech-mahindra-lt-bajaj-finance-iifl-securities-sun-pharma-and-others/articleshow/80107597.cms">Top stocks to watch — HDFC, Tech Mahindra, L&amp;T, Bajaj Finance, IIFL Securities, Sun Pharma, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/tatas-got-airasia-stake-at-a-20-discount-while-indigo-and-spicejets-value-has-doubled-since-pandemic-broke-out/articleshow/80101467.cms">Tatas got AirAsia stake at a 20% discount while IndiGo and SpiceJet’s value has doubled since pandemic broke out</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bharat-biotech-sees-rivals-conspiracy-in-all-the-criticism-for-the-approval-for-covaxin/articleshow/80099818.cms">Bharat Biotech sees rivals’ conspiracy in all the criticism for the approval for Covaxin</a>

New York confirms first case of COVID-19 mutant strain

London, With <keyword id="9394428" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="several-countries">several countries</keyword> in the world either suspending or temporarily halting flights to and fro from Britain after the discovery of a <keyword id="10472006" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-mutant-covid-19-strain">new mutant Covid-19 strain</keyword>, reports of detection of the new strain in patients in <keyword id="6355478" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="australia">Australia</keyword> and <keyword id="21474" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Italy">Italy</keyword> have also emerged. Australia's federal health minister Greg Hunt said on Monday that the new strain has been detected in a small number of cases, The Guardian reported. The <keyword id="46535" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Health-ministry">health ministry</keyword> in Italy on Sunday said that it detected a patient with the new Covid-19 strain found in Britain. The patient, who is now in isolation, returned from the UK in the past few days. The fear over the fast spread of the new strain has led many countries to put new restrictions on international travel. India on Monday announced a temporary ban on flights coming from the UK till 11.59 p.m. on December 31. The suspension commences from 11.59 p.m. on December 22. Several other countries, including France, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Irish Republic, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Switzerland and Canada, had earlier announced the suspension of UK flights, the BBC reported. The new variant has spread quickly in London and south-east <keyword id="6355981" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="england">England</keyword>, but health officials in the UK said that there is no evidence that it is more deadly or would react differently to vaccines. British health secretary Matt Hancock warned that the new variant, which may be up to 70% more transmissible, is "getting out of control". SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heres-what-analysts-say-if-you-should-subscribe-or-not-to-the-300-crore-ipo-of-antony-waste-handling-cell/articleshow/79790998.cms">Antony Waste Handling Cell ₹300-crore IPO opens today — these are the risks and opportunities</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/the-founder-of-sugar-cosmetics-explains-how-the-startup-clocked-a-60-growth-in-sales-during-the-pandemic/articleshow/79832966.cms">The founder of SUGAR cosmetics explains how the startup clocked a 60% growth in sales during the pandemic</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/pine-labs-valuation-crosses-2-billion-as-it-raises-fresh-funds-from-lone-pine-capital/articleshow/79833738.cms">Pine Labs' valuation crosses $2 billion as it raises fresh funds from Lone Pine Capital</a>

UK's new mutant Covid-19 strain detected in Australia and Italy

Washington, Indian-American Vivek Murthy, US President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for <keyword id="246359" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Surgeon-General">Surgeon General</keyword>, has said that the highly <keyword id="10469912" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="infectious-new-mutant-covid-19-strain">infectious new mutant Covid-19 strain</keyword> discovered in Britain, does not appear to be any deadlier. "While it seems to be more transmissible, we do not have evidence yet that this is a more <keyword id="861531" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="deadly-virus">deadly virus</keyword> to an individual who acquires it," The Hill news website quoted Murthu as saying on NBC News on Sunday. He added that there was also no proof that Covid-19 vaccines would be less effective against the new strain. "The bottom line is if you're at home and you're hearing this news, it does not change what we do in terms of precautions as individuals that can reduce the spread of this virus. "It turns out that masking, that keeping physical distance, washing our hands, these are still the pillars of preventing Covid-19 transmission," Murthy was quoted as further saying. On December 19, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of the mutant virus strain which has quickly spread across London and the southeast of <keyword id="6355981" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="england">England</keyword>. By the week ending December 9, the new variant accounted for 62% in London, 59% in eastern England, and 43% in the South East. According to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the new variant was "out of control". Due to the development, several countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Saudi Arabia, announced restrictions on passenger planes to and from from the UK. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heres-what-analysts-say-if-you-should-subscribe-or-not-to-the-300-crore-ipo-of-antony-waste-handling-cell/articleshow/79790998.cms">Antony Waste Handling Cell ₹300-crore IPO opens today — these are the risks and opportunities</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/the-founder-of-sugar-cosmetics-explains-how-the-startup-clocked-a-60-growth-in-sales-during-the-pandemic/articleshow/79832966.cms">The founder of SUGAR cosmetics explains how the startup clocked a 60% growth in sales during the pandemic</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/pine-labs-valuation-crosses-2-billion-as-it-raises-fresh-funds-from-lone-pine-capital/articleshow/79833738.cms">Pine Labs' valuation crosses $2 billion as it raises fresh funds from Lone Pine Capital</a>

Mutant COVID-19 strain in UK doesn't appear to be deadlier, says US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

Indian Council of Medical Research (<keyword id="6364396" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICMR">ICMR</keyword>) said on Monday <keyword id="8904563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine">Covid-19 vaccine</keyword> <keyword id="9485939" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covaxin">Covaxin</keyword> neutralises <keyword id="9380721" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="multiple-variants">multiple variants</keyword> of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well. ICMR cited the findings of a study carried out by them. Covaxin is developed locally by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd. in collaboration with the ICMR -- the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. ICMR-National Institute of Virology has successfully isolated and cultured multiple variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 virus: B.1.1.7 (the UK variant), B.1.1.28 (Brazil variant ) and B.1.351 (South Africa variant), said the apex health research body. "ICMR study shows Covaxin neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well," the ICMR said in a tweet. They have also demonstrated the neutralisation potential of Covaxin against the UK variant and Brazil variant. ICMR-NIV recently has been successful in isolating and culturing the double mutant strain B.1.617 SARS-CoV-2 identified in certain regions of India and several other countries. "Covaxin has been found to effectively neutralise the double mutant strain as well," it said. The study was published in the Journal for Travel Medicine in March where it highlighted that Covaxin is effective against the UK variants as well as other strains of Covid-19. "It was reassuring from the PRNT50 data generated in our laboratory that the indigenous BBV152/ COVAXIN, following its roll out in vaccination program, could be expected to work against the new UK-variant," the study said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebook-in-the-crosshairs-yet-again-this-time-indias-cybersecurity-agency-issues-an-advisory-to-indian-users/articleshow/82177573.cms">Facebook in the crosshairs yet again – this time, India’s cybersecurity agency issues an advisory to Indian users</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covishield-vaccine-priced-at-400-and-600-for-state-hospitals-and-private-hospitals-respectively/articleshow/82176762.cms">Covishield vaccine priced at ₹400 and ₹600 for state hospitals and private hospitals respectively, to be available in medical stores after 4-5 months</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-privacy-oriented-ios-14-5-update-can-impact-on-facebook-ad-revenue/articleshow/82176041.cms">Apple will roll out the privacy-oriented iOS 14.5 update next week that has Facebook worried</a>

COVID-19 vaccine 'Covaxin' is effective against double mutant strain found in India, says ICMR

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A new threat has emerged in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s fight against <keyword id="8764262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid">COVID</keyword> - a triple-mutant variant of the virus.</li><li>The new strain was found in samples in Bengal, and may have evolved from existing double mutations.</li><li>Researchers in India say the new threat may affect vaccine efficacy, but more studies are needed.</li></ul>As India <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-indias-covid-19-surge-die-stretchers-hospitals-2021-4">contends with its second major wave</a> of COVID cases and a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/double-mutant-coronavirus-variant-california-india-2021-4">double-mutated variant of the virus</a>, it now faces a new threat - a triple-mutant variant.<a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/indias-next-big-challenge-the-triple-mutant-covid-virus-100523377.html">Scientists found</a> two triple-mutant varieties in patient samples in four states: Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. Researchers in the country have dubbed it the "Bengal strain" and say it has the potential to be even more infectious than the double-mutant variant.This is because three COVID variants have merged to form a new, possibly deadlier variant.The <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/scientists-sound-alarm-over-triple-mutant-bengal-strain/articleshow/82190016.cms">Times of India</a> spoke to Vinod Scaria, a researcher at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in India, who said the triple-mutant was also an "immune escape variant" - a strain that helps the virus attach to human cells and hide from the immune system.He added that it could have evolved from the double-mutant variant - which experts say is likely behind the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/21/why-is-india-seeing-such-a-huge-surge-in-covid-19-cases">recent surge of COVID</a> in the country.Sreedhar Chinnaswamy, a researcher from the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics in India, told the Times of India that the variant also carried the E484K mutation, a characteristic found in the variants first identified in South Africa and Brazil."In other words, you may not be safe from this variant even if you were previously infected by another strain, or even if you have been vaccinated," Chinnaswamy said.Paul Tambyah, a professor of medicine at the National University of Singapore, said the good <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> is that there is no concrete evidence that the triple mutation is deadlier or more transmissible."Singapore researchers have done some work trying to link the mutations with clinical outcomes and transmissibility and have found no link between more severity or more transmissibility with newer mutants compared with the original lineages of SARS-CoV2," Tambyah said.Other scientists studying COVID have detected quadruple- and quintuple-mutants in samples as well, he said, without it necessarily affecting how well vaccines work."There is good data suggesting that the immune system, not just antibodies, can respond to multiple different mutants," Tambyah said.But this new threat is still worrying, as India's healthcare system has already reached a breaking point as it grapples with the second wave of COVID cases. Hospitals across the country are dealing with critical shortages of medical oxygen supplies. Yesterday, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-hospitals-run-out-of-oxygen-amid-covid-19-surge-2021-4">six hospitals</a> in the country reportedly ran out of oxygen as the country grappled with a sudden surge in patients.Oxygen supplies have been diverted from <a href="https://www.insider.com/indias-shipbreaking-industry-halts-as-oxygen-diverted-to-fight-covid-2021-4">shipbreaking facilities</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/steel-plants-in-india-open-hospital-covid-oxygen-2021-4">steel plants</a>. Still, hospitals <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-hospitals-overwhelmed-in-covid-19-2nd-wave-gatherings-continue-2021-4">remain overwhelmed</a> - with some desperate families even resorting to <a href="https://www.insider.com/india-covid-second-wave-oxygen-shortage-2021-4">stealing oxygen cylinders</a> from hospitals to keep their family members alive.India recorded a daily high of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-coronavirus-cases-highest-single-day-rise-global-record-2021-4">314,835 COVID cases</a> on Thursday, but that worldwide record was broken within 24 hours when the country announced that it recorded <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/newsblogs/latest-daily-news-and-updates-april-23/liveblog/82207080.cms">332,730 new cases and 2,263 deaths</a> on Friday. The country now has over 16 million COVID cases, second only to the US' record of 32 million cases.

A COVID triple-mutant found in India could be much more deadly, and may be resistant to existing vaccines

<ul class="summary-list"><li>On Friday evening, <keyword id="6380867" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="boris-johnson">Boris Johnson</keyword> held an emergency meeting to discuss a new strain of COVID-19.</li><li>The prime minister was handed alarming evidence about the mutant strain, according to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/18/exclusive-boris-johnson-handed-alarming-new-evidence-virulent/">The Telegraph</a>.</li><li>The Government could introduce a travel ban on journeys in and out of <keyword id="6354968" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="london">London</keyword> as soon as Saturday, reports the <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-considering-ban-southeast-23191081?_ga=2.104412800.1015162049.1608368292-2068418410.1607244395">Mirror</a>.</li><li>The new strain is believed to be more infectious than the original variant, scientists say.</li></ul>On Friday evening, Boris Johnson summoned ministers to an emergency meeting to discuss a mysterious new variant of coronavirus prevalent in London and large parts of Southern <keyword id="6355981" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="england">England</keyword>.In the meeting, the prime minister was given alarming new evidence on the mutating COVID-19. The possibility of introducing stricter lockdown restrictions as soon as Saturday was also discussed, according to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/18/exclusive-boris-johnson-handed-alarming-new-evidence-virulent/">The Telegraph</a>.Johnson is said to be weighing up imminently introducing a travel ban on journeys in and out of London to stop the spread of the strain, reports the <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-considering-ban-southeast-23191081?_ga=2.104412800.1015162049.1608368292-2068418410.1607244395">Mirror</a>.It is understood that a decision has not yet been made.The variant, referred to by scientists as 'VUI - 202012/01', is believed to be causing the faster spread of coronavirus in parts of the South East of England.In Kent, the number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 is higher than during the previous peak in the Spring. London, also experiencing a surge, was placed into the toughest 'Tier 3' restrictions this week.Scientists believe the variant to be more infectious than the original strain. A government official told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/18/boris-johnson-calls-crisis-meeting-to-discuss-response-to-new-covid-strain">The Guardian</a>: "There are concerns that it is more transmissible than the existing strain - and that sense is hardening."On Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-coronavirus-strain-uk-spread-experts-unsure-2020-12">told the Commons</a>: "Initial analysis suggests this variant is growing faster than the existing variants."Hancock explained that the World Health Organization had been notified about the mutant strain. At least 60 different local authorities have seen infections from this variant and scientists are currently investigating it in detail, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55308211">according to the BBC</a>. Talk of introducing tougher restrictions comes just days before the UK is expected to relax the rules for the Christmas period.Between 23 and 27 December, people across the UK are permitted to form 'Christmas bubbles' with three households allowed to meet.Scientists have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/11/scientists-warn-against-christmas-gatherings-uk-despite-relaxed-rules-covid">warned against this Christmas relaxation</a> and have suggested that they could lead to a national lockdown in January and February.Johnson, on Friday, refused to rule out a potential third lockdown for England.

You Searched For "new COVID 19 mutant" and got 9 results

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A COVID triple-mutant found in India could be much more deadly, and may be resistant to existing vaccines

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Alarm over a new COVID-19 variant in the UK. Boris Johnson calls an emergency meeting to combat the mutating coronavirus.

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