A BRADFORD TV doctor says the next two weeks are crucial in finding out how severe a new Covid variant is.
Dr Amir Khan has discussed a travel ban is to be imposed on six African nations due to rising concerns over a new variant of the virus which causes Covid-19 which officials have dubbed “the worst one we’ve seen so far”.
UK officials sounded the alarm on Thursday night over the B.1.1.529 variant, which has the potential to evade immunity built up by vaccination or prior infection.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the new variant identified in South Africa “may be more transmissible” than the Delta strain and “the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective”.
The new B.1.1.529 COVID-19 variant
— Dr Amir Khan GP (@DrAmirKhanGP) November 26, 2021
It’s still early days, but here is what we know so far pic.twitter.com/Xh2MMQUtu7
He said that flights to England from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from noon today and all six countries will be added to the red list.
While no cases have been found in Britain, officials raised concern over a rapid rise in cases in South Africa.
Speaking on today's Good Morning Britain, Dr Amir said: "It's still very, very early days.
"The next couple of weeks are crucial in determining how severe this new variant is."
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