After more than a year since the novel coronavirus was first discovered in a wet market of Wuhan, its been 11 months of the pandemic. Even with multiple series of lockdowns, travel restrictions, etc., across most countries, one can say we have made some significant progress in finding a cure for the virus. With major pharma players like Pfizer and Moderna supplying their mRNA vaccines, many countries have begun their vaccination drives to protect their citizens. Just when we thought we could see light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, a few new players joined the situation – the newer, more transmissible variants that are wreaking havoc in the European continent.
With two new variants out there, crisis deepens both in the UK and South Africa, both the most affected countries of their respective continents. The B117 variant in the UK has overwhelmed the hospitals, with a 24% rise in positivity rates across the country. The South African variant is the more transmissible 501Y.V2 that is said to be of a more dominant lineage. South Africa has a total of 11,50,000 cases reported so far.
India has so far been successful in isolating, tracking and spreading the spread of the UK variant. With two vaccines approved for emergency use and the world’s largest vaccination drive set to begin in the next few days in India, it is a game of wait and watch for the world’s largest democracy!
