Covid: Why goal is to live with the virus - not fight it
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Vaccination and new treatments, ministers and their scientific advisers argue, will reduce the death rate and allow us to live with the virus rather than constantly trying to fight it. Why are they doing this? And is it even possible?
Eradicating viruses is nigh on impossible
Wiping Covid from the face of the Earth would, of course, be great given the death and destruction it has caused. But the only problem with that is that eradication has only been achieved with one virus before - smallpox in 1980.
But other leading experts dismissed the latest “variant of concern” and insist we should not panic as intensive surge testing for the South African variant is being conducted in several parts of the country.
Speaking in a personal capacity, Professor Robert Dingwall, a member of the Government’s New and Emerging Virus Threats Group – Nervtag – said: “We should not be panicking about these variants.
“The sort of variants we will see are such a small drift from the original virus that they do not change it in a radical way.
“The changes we have seen and we will see are pretty minor modifications of the virus which can be easily matched by the vaccine or tweaks to it.”
Why the Kent Covid variant may be more lethal than the first strain
Scientists think some of the behaviours that make the new strain more easy to transmit may also make it more deadly
When news emerged last December of a new, far more contagious coronavirus mutation spreading across Britain, there was only one positive straw at which to clutch.
There was no evidence, scientists said, that what became known as the Kent variant was more deadly than the original strain.
But at the end of January, Boris Johnson was shown a paper by the Government s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Group that appeared to destroy even that shred of hope.
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Emerging evidence suggests B.1.1.7 is probably around 70% more infectious than other variants.
There s growing speculation that kids are more susceptible to infection with the variant, but we don t know for sure.
The UK s biggest teaching union has requested schools remain closed for two weeks from January 4.
Here s everything we know so far.
A variant of coronavirus called B.1.1.7 is causing major disruption, precipitating new lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Experts are beginning to suggest that children are more susceptible to B.1.1.7. and the UK s biggest teaching union has asked for schools to remain closed for two weeks from January 4.
The evidence, for now, remains inconclusive, and scientists continue to investigate. Here s what we know so far.
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Scientists are investigating whether the new COVID-19 variant is more infectious in kids. Here s what we know so far.
Scientists are investigating whether the new COVID-19 variant is more infectious in kids. Here s what we know so far.
Dr. Catherine Schuster-BruceDec 23, 2020, 22:02 IST
A child wears mask and reaches for hand sanitizer in a cafe.Getty
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Emerging evidence suggests B.1.1.7 is probably around 70% more infectious than other variants.
There s growing speculation that kids are more susceptible to infection with the variant, but we don t know for sure.
The UK s biggest teaching union has requested schools remain closed for two weeks from January 4.