Indian Variant of COVID-19 found in Nottingham accommodation

Just when we thought life may be going back to normal, targeted surge testing is being introduced in Notts after a collection of cases were found in private, shared accommodation in the city.

For my ‘BSc’s out there, the new ‘B.1.617 mutation’ isn’t so new and first appeared in October 2020. But recently, due to its high transmissibility, it has touched shores on over 30 countries including the UK.

The WHO stated, ‘The more SARS-CoV-2 circulates, the more opportunities it has to mutate’. In other words, don’t expect this to be the last time COVID tries to re-emerge.

Some of you may be asking, ‘Is this variant more dangerous?’

Whilst research is always ongoing, what is known about the variant so far is that it spreads more easily and makes it more likely that the dreaded ‘R’ number will rise (which we saw during the second lockdown).

However there’s no need to fear, David Johns (interim director of public health Nottingham) said that for most of us we just need to be “extra vigilant when we stick to the guidance around ‘hands, face, space’ in order to keep each other safe”.

Hopefully, this shouldn’t be hard for even the most hygienically challenged among us!