UK coronavirus Here is why countries are banning flights from UK
A fast-moving new variant of the Coronavirus strain, named "VUI - 202012/01" or “B.1.1.7” has been discovered in the United Kingdom.
London and southeast England have been placed under strict lockdown and will remain in lockdown, until the new vaccine is fully rolled out.
The new strain is also called the ‘super-spreader’ as it is believed to be behind the sharp rise in cases in the UK.
Scientists say the new strain has much higher transmissibility than compared to the earlier variant.
According to UK scientists, B.1.1.7 has an unusually large number of genetic changes.
Changes are seen in the spike protein which is often responsible for how the virus interacts with a human cell.
The Scientists also believe that the new vaccine being rolled out will be effective against this new variant.
The fact that the number of regions reporting the B.1.1.7 variant and cases associated with this strain are rising fast is triggering concern.
The Indian government along with several other countries has suspended all commercial flights from the UK till the 31st of December.
The union health minister has said that the government is aware and there is no need to panic.