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Public Health England has now found 90 cases of South African coronavirus variant as thousands more people test positive for the Kent strain - but worrying Brazil mutation has STILL not appeared

Nearly 100 cases of the South African coronavirus variant have been spotted in Britain, Public Health England revealed today.

PHE said that, as of January 27, the B.1.351 strain had been picked up 90 times through genomic sequencing – analysing the genetics of different samples of the virus – since December.

It is likely to be far more widespread because UK officials only analyse 10 per cent of random positive samples from the Government's national testing programme.

The South African variant has mutations on its spike protein which scientists fear will make it difficult for the immune system to recognise, even in vaccinated people, and ministers have banned travel from South Africa as a result.

Meanwhile, PHE's report showed about 28,000 cases of the Kent variant had been picked up by sample testing since it was discovered. Again, this is vastly smaller than the actual number of cases because PHE only looks at one in 10 positive samples.

This variant has already become the dominant strain in the UK, accounting for two-thirds of all new cases and likely infecting millions of Brits.

PHE said it still had not detected any cases of the Brazil variant which has been causing international alarm. 

That strain - called P.1 - has some of the same mutations as the South African variant which open the door to antibody resistance which could make it harder for the immune system to destroy it.

Experts say just because the strain has not been picked up yet, does not mean it is not already here.


These are the daily average of cases per million people in the countries that could be on the UK quarantine list published later today

These are the daily average of cases per million people in the countries that could be on the UK quarantine list published later today 

The PHE figures revealed the Kent strain had been picked up through genomic sequencing 28,122 times, which had increased by 3,714 cases since the last update a week ago.  

The data also showed that there had been 14 confirmed cases of another Brazilian variant, known as P.2,  in the UK.

Experts say they are not concerned about this strain because it does not have any problematic mutations.   

There are growing fears that P.1, the other Brazil variant, and the South African strain will make the current crop of vaccines less effective.

Moderna and Pfizer - two American firms which developed two of the breakthrough vaccines - have already announced they are developing booster shots to target the variants.

What variants are causing panic around the world? 

Kent variant

Real name: B.1.1.7

When was it discovered? The variant was first found in the South East of England and can be traced back to September 2020.

What mutations does it have? It has 23 mutations, some of which change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main mutation is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread.

Why is it causing worry? UK studies have shown it is between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious than the regular strain, which has made it harder to control. Preliminary studies also show it is about 30 per cent more deadly than previous versions.

How many people have caught it in the UK? It is the dominant strain in Britain and accounts for the majority of new cases. 

Brazil variant 

Real name: P.1

When was it discovered? In Tokyo, Japan, in four travellers arriving from Manaus, Brazil, on January 2.

What mutations does it have? P.1 has 17 mutations, three of which are particularly concerning to scientists.

Like the Kent variant, it also has the N501Y mutation which suggests it's more infectious and possibly more lethal.  

It also has a spike alteration named E484K, which scientists believe may be associated with an ability to evade parts of the immune system called antibodies.

Researchers suspect this is the case because strains with this mutation have been shown to reinfect people who caught and beat older versions of Covid. 

Another key mutation in the variant, named K417T, has the potential to 'possibly escape some antibodies', according to British experts.

This mutation is less well-studied and the ramifications of this are still being researched.  

Why is it causing worry? There have been a number of proven cases of people catching this variant after beating older versions of the virus. It strongly suggests the variant can evade natural immunity and possibly even vaccines.

How many people have caught it in the UK? It's not. Public health officials and scientists randomly sample around 1 in 10 coronavirus cases in the UK and they have not yet reported any cases of the variant, but this doesn't rule it out completely. 

South African variant 

Real name: B.1.351

When was it discovered? Nelson Mandela Bay, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, in mid-December.

What mutations does it have? The South African variant carries 21 mutations, including E484K and N501Y.

Why is it causing worry? Those two mutations suggest it is more infectious than the older version of Covid and raise the possibility of antibody resistance. However, Sir Patrick Vallance has said there is no reason the South African or Brazilian strains would become dominant in the UK, because they don't have any evolutionary edge over the Kent strain currently plaguing the country, which is just as transmissible.

How many people have caught it in the UK? At least 77 Brits have been infected with this variant, though the number is likely to be far higher because PHE is only testing random positive samples. 

Lab tests done by both firms showed each of their vaccines are less potent against the South African variant, but they still work.

The companies said their vaccines produced a high enough level of antibodies to kill the mutant strain.

But, because no vaccine is perfect, there's always a risk someone who is immunised can still catch Covid. The new variants may increase the chance of this happening.

Both strains share the E484K mutation which is thought to be an escape mutation which can 'hide' from antibody responses.

However, in a huge boost to Britain's vaccination programme, laboratory tests have found the Kent variant, which is currently the dominant Covid strain in the UK, appears to have no impact on the current crop of jabs.

South Africa is part of the UK quarantine list published today as the Government closed its borders to dozens of countries in a bid to prevent more cases of the B.1.351 strain entering the UK.  

The country joined 30 other 'high risk' countries believed to also include Brazil, Portugal, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, much of South America and southern Africa.

These areas have been chosen because of dangerous variants that have emerged there or because they have rocketing infection and death rates. 

Some also don't have good enough testing labs to track the virus well so it would be hard to spot new variants in time.

Returning travellers from any of the countries will be forced to quarantine in hotels for 10 days and they'll have to pay for their own accomodation.    

In a statement to MPs, the Home Secretary also announced that Britons will be sent home from ports and airports if they fail to prove their trip abroad is 'essential', as she vowed police will ramp up enforcement on travel restrictions.

She insisted the measures would help prevent mutant Covid strains getting into the country - but they are far milder than were originally mooted.

It will only affect British travellers, as foreign citizens who have been in the countries are already banned from entering altogether.

Ms Patel herself is believed to have been pushing for a much tougher regime alongside Matt Hancock and Michael Gove, but was overruled after resistance from Rishi Sunak, Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps, and warnings it would 'kill' the aviation industry.

The government is facing the prospect of a revolt from UK nations, with Nicola Sturgeon threatening to impose her own more brutal curbs in Scotland, and Wales saying they do not go far enough.

Labour said ministers were 'behind the curve' in protecting the country's borders.

But making the case for the government in a Commons statement, Ms Patel said: 'It is clear that there are still too many people coming in and out of our country each day.

'And today I am announcing further action to strengthen the health measures we already have at the border, but to reduce passenger flow so that only a small number of people for whom it is absolutely essential to travel are doing so and therefore reducing the risk to our world-leading vaccine programme.'

Under the push to clamp down on travel, airlines are expected to be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly after influencers were accused of 'taking the p***' by jetting out to Dubai, claiming their Instagram updates constituted work.

'Even at St Pancras people have been turning up with their skis,' Ms Patel said.

'We see plenty of influencers on social media showing off about which parts of the world they are in...

'Going on holiday is not a valid reason to travel.'

The limited Australian-style quarantine scheme follows concerns about new Covid variants entering Britain - but ignores a plea from Ms Patel and Health Secretary Matt Hancock to apply the diktat to all arrivals.

Confusingly, Boris Johnson told the House earlier that 22 countries will be on the quarantine list - but in fact the current 'red list' of countries from where only British nationals can come to the UK is much wider than that.

Ms Patel did not give a full roll call of the states included when she addressed MPs.

She said the government does have estimates for how many people will need to quarantine in hotels, but refused to give them. Sources said the numbers of arrivals going into the accommodation is likely to be in the hundreds to start with, but should fall quickly.

And although she suggested there is an 'immediate' crackdown the start date for the enforced quarantine is not clear.

What countries are on the 'red list' for new quarantine rules?  

Angola

Argentina

Bolivia

Botswana

Brazil

Cape Verde

Chile

Colombia

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ecuador

Eswatini

French Guinea

Guyana

Lesotho

Malawi 

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)

Seychelles

South Africa

Suriname

Tanzania

Uruguay

Venezuela

Zambia

Zimbabwe

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