The UK Government announced a surprise lockdown on December 19, 2020 in London and parts of the country amid a surge in the cases of the coronavirus disease after the discovery of B.1.1.7-a new strain of the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
- The new UK variant, known as VUI–202012/01 or lineage B.1.1.7, was first identified in the county of Kent on September 20, 2020 but was confirmed in December 2020.
- According to experts, the new strain is 70% more infectious than other strains of the virus.
- It is believed that most of the new cases in the country are driven by this variant, with up to 60% of the cases in London being caused by it.
Mutation Vs recombination
- According to the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, Viruses are continuously changing as a result of genetic selection. They undergo subtle genetic changes through mutation and major genetic changes through recombination.
- Mutation occurs when an error is incorporated in the viral genome. Mutations can produce viruses with new antigenic determinants.
- Recombination occurs when coinfecting viruses exchange genetic information, creating a novel virus.
