Nearly 3,000 Cases of Indian Covid Variant Reported in UK

Covid vaccines that are currently available will be effective against all variants of the virus, including the Indian strain, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UK citizens can travel abroad to countries that have been green-listed without having to quarantine upon return.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the spread of the Indian variant has raised concerns, as 3,000 cases of the coronavirus variant have been reported in Britain.

In a statement on Wednesday at the House of //Commons, the lower house of Parliament, Hancock said 2,967 cases of the variant have now been recorded, 28 per cent up from more than 2,300 on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Novel Coronavirus Positive Cases Cross 162mn Mark Globally
The overall global COVID-19 caseload has topped 162.7 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.37 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

‘Covid vaccines that are currently available will be effective against all variants of the virus, including the Indian strain, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UK citizens can travel abroad to countries that have been green-listed without having to quarantine upon return.’

Surge testing and vaccinations will be deployed in the affected areas including Bedford, Burnley, Hounslow, Kirklees, Leicester and North Tyneside, according to the Health Secretary.

The Scottish government is also taking similar steps in Glasgow and Moray, he added.

"What this means in practice is we are putting in place more testing and more testing sites. We are making more vaccinations available to everyone who is eligible."

Karnataka's Coronavirus Tally Nearing 3.36-Lakh as Cases Surge
Karnataka's COVID-19 tally rose to 3,35,928, even as 7,101 were discharged, resulting in 88,091 active cases, reports official.//

The spread of the Indian variant has raised concerns that England's final step of the roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions scheduled for June 21 might be delayed.

Death Toll Due to Coronavirus Touched 690,000 Mark
Global COVID-19 deaths surpassed 690,000 on Monday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told lawmakers earlier Wednesday that there is "increasing confidence" that the current vaccines will be effective against all variants of the virus, including the Indian strain.

From Monday, pubs, bars and restaurants in England were permitted to open indoors, while indoor entertainment resumed, including cinemas, museums and children's play areas.

Changes in B Cell Responses to Coronaviruses in Kids, Adults
Memory B cells that bind to SARS-CoV-2 and cross-react with other coronaviruses were identified in kids even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions in England were allowed to meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people, and meet indoors in groups of up to six or as two households.

Meanwhile, all remaining accommodation including hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen from May 24.

People were also allowed to travel abroad to a number of green-list countries without having to quarantine upon return as the ban on foreign travel has also been lifted.

The UK has so far reported 4,468,355 Covid-19 cases and 127,956 deaths.

Source-IANS