Coronavirus variant B16172: could it block the UK’s path out of lockdown?

[2greys]

A few weeks of relief from isolation, huddling in your big coats outside chatting to a few friends in the evening after work, beginning to feel optimistic about the roadmap out of lockdown, and then another curveball comes in. This time in the form of the coronavirus variant called B1617 – which was first identified in India. Or rather, to be specific, B16172, because B16171 and B16273 have not shown such an alarming increase in cases.

The rapid increase in the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 sequences in England that are B16172 seem to indicate that its transmissibility exceeds even that of the B117 variant (the so-called Kent variant), which kept the UK in lockdown over the winter.

An initial feeling of unease, given the dreadful situation that has unfolded in India, has given way to genuine concern that this could be the problem that blocks the UK’s path out of lockdown. This would, of course, be a tremendous disappointment to a country that has been looking forward to a summer of freedom.

So perhaps us scientists shouldn’t say anything until we are more sure whether it could be a problem. But the consequences of not saying anything if it does turn out to be a valid concern could be catastrophic, and there may not be much time to act.

theconversation.com/coronav...

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

It sounds worrying, thank you for the information. Have a good night and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[RoadRunner44]

Oh dear, at least he's being honest.

[CDPO16]

It's on the increase in towns near me with cases doubling over the past week. It has been muted that local tier restrictions may be introduced again as the rest of the country has their restrictions lifted next week. This doesn't, of course, stop the spread if people move from one area to another. Many local professionals and residents seem to be saying, however, that in spite of disappointment, health must come first which is quite reassuring.

[Hidden in reply to CDPO16]

With regard to disappointment most of the things planned can easily be replaced and done another time as we have been sorting out the cancelled things from last year and they have been rearranged the ones that can be replaced and done another time and come to terms the things that cannot be replaced.

That's why we decided the best way forward was not to book any holidays this year and perhaps see about 2022 at the earliest as we felt it wasnt worth risking disappointment and upsetting ourselves.

[Hidden]

we will deal with it should anything happen

[Patk1]

We especially, need to be very cautious

[knitter]

It’s just I haven’t seen one daughter since Christmas 2019, my granddaughter and other daughter only a couple of hours in the garden since 2019 .Planned to see them soon, if that is cancelled so upsetting.

Especially when I see people outside in pub gardens etc .

Not even seen my friends new kitchen .....silly thing I know....but then I see gatherings of people on tv.

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

It's always upsetting isn't it when you have really set your heart on something then as the last minute it's snatched away from you as that's important to you personally.

A few weeks back I had gone to see my friends who I hadn't seen since September last year and had enjoyed the day but in the afternoon I had felt miffed at those sat in pub beer gardens and I had felt like it wasn't fair why should they get things whilst others miss out?

[Dizzart in reply to knitter]

I agree , my cousin said so you can’t catch it at the pub and you can’t get it on a crowded beach but it’s dangerous to cuddle grand ma !! or does that infer none of the tests they issue are certain to work?

[Patk1 in reply to knitter]

It will b lovely 4u to see them.can open window to ventilated or sit out.do they live near? Just stay as safe as u can x

[TeachKat in reply to knitter]

I agree - my grandchildren live in Qatar and usually spend at least a month with us in the Summer. I haven’t seen them in person since Summer 2019 and the chances of seeing them at all this year are receding 😢

[Dizzart]

It’s certainly blocked mine as I was so pleased after my 2nd jab to be free to shop and go out etc and now we have all been told we don’t need masks or to social distance I’m back to stage one , well until we know for certain these inoculations work .

[Jaybird19 in reply to Dizzart]

The inoculation reduce the intensity of infectioñ and it is thought that it can still be carried. We do not know how the Indian variant will be affected here

[Alberta56]

One hopes the government will react in time and not bury their heads in the sand.

[Tryfan]

Share your concern. It is a great pity, if you follow Dr John Campbell on this site or Facebook. He was saying weeks ago that all flights to and from India should be stopped. What happened, nothing. Probably as Boris was still planning his visit. Sacrificed again on political expediency.When he compares Australia, New Zealand swift, positive action compared to our vacillation. You only have to compare cases and deaths to see which option is the correct one.

Too little to late is again the watch word. We may well have been able to contain this variant had we acted sooner. Now the box is open. Let's hope and pray the current vaccines work.

[2greys in reply to Tryfan]

I have to agree with every word you have said there. It has been 'too little to late' all through this Pandemic and this country is not the only one guilty of it, even the W.H.O. are just as guilty of 'too little to late'.

[Dizzart in reply to 2greys]

One almost feels also that letting social distances and face masks to end that they are trying to prevent us from helping the economy as who with any sense would go in an over crowded chip shop or supermarket . Masks and social distancing need not curb our freedom

[Patk1 in reply to Tryfan]

Ditto

[watergazer]

🤞that the vaccines help to curb this latest mutation. I wonder at the reasoning behind delaying the blocking of flights to India I question more why people were allowed to travel overseas in the first place x

[Annie31 in reply to watergazer]

As far as I can tell from the media, Boris had plans to go India at around the same time for trade deal talks. This variant is the reason the visit was cancelled and presumably the flights! The reasons for overseas flights to India are debatable, questionable but I'm not going to comment! 🙄😮

[JerryMaren]

Yeh it’s v worying. Will the vaxines peple have had work against it or are the casis rising in peple who’ve alredy had the vaxine? Who’s caching it? It scares me all this dose.

[Jackieshep57]

Very worrying and I agree that too little to late is not good. Hope we can all be careful.