'Triple Mutant' COVID Variant Identified in UK with 'Strange Gene Combination' - FARS

(FNA)- A “triple mutant” COVID variant with a “strange combination” of genes is being probed by UK virologists as England’s R rate worryingly rises to potentially over one.

There have been 49 cases found so far of the new variant mainly in Yorkshire and Humber with people being told not to be alarmed by it, The Daily Mirror reported.

The mutant form of COVID is a “variant under investigation” but there is no evidence yet to say it is more transmissible or resistant to vaccines.

At the same time, the government has said that the COVID R rate is now somewhere between 0.9 and 1.1 which is the highest it has been since the second wave peak back in January.

Ministers have said that they will put in place any measures necessary to tackle any fresh variants.

But Greg Fell, Sheffield’s director of public health said there is no reason to think the “triple mutant variant” is more transmissible or vaccine resistant.

He said in a statement, “Please don't be alarmed, we want you to continue doing what you have been for the past year. Follow the guidance, continue to wash your hands regularly and wear a mask indoors.”

He added that where cases have been found “contact tracing and targeted testing” would be used to limit its spread, while the "strange combination of mutations" continues to be probed.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said, "There have been a number of variants throughout the pandemic and there will continue to be so."

“There are three mutations of the B1617 (Indian) strain, as I think has been discussed previously, but as we do with all variants where we spot and identify them through our genomic sequencing programme, we will continue to monitor them and we will designate them as variants under investigation, and then variants of concern if we deem them to be of greater risk," he added.

“But again, as you've seen throughout the pandemic, that's what we've done and we won't hesitate to put in measures that we think are necessary to try and tackle the transmission of any variants,” he said.

The Office for National Statistics has estimated that it is seeing a “potential increase” in COVID cases with almost 50,000 people infected by the virus on any day last week.

But Public Health England’s weekly report found that cases had dropped in every region but the North West and in every age group bar five to nine year-olds.

Cases of the Indian variant are only surging in three areas - Bolton, Blackburn and Bedford - of the 23 hotspots which also suggests that it is not heading out of control.

Similarly, King’s College London analysis found that 2,750 people had developed COVID symptoms over the past week which is little change from the previous seven days.