JOHANNESBURG:Â South Africa’s health minister has rejected his British counterpart’s assertion that a new coronavirus variant within the nation is more contagious or harmful than a similar one in spreading in the UK.
“At current, there isn’t any proof that the 501.V2 (variant) is more transmissible than the UK variant – as urged by the British Health Secretary,” Zwelini Mkhize stated in a press release revealed late Thursday.
“There may be also no proof that (it) causes more extreme illness or increased mortality than the UK variant or any variant that has been sequenced all over the world.”
Saying restrictions on travel from South Africa Wednesday, Britain’s Matt Hancock had stated that the variant there was “extremely concerning, because it’s yet more transmissible, and it seems to have mutated further” than the same strain in Britain.
The British minister’s phrases “have created a perception that the variant in SA has been a major factor in the second wave in the UK”, Mkhize stated.
“This isn’t right.”
He pointed to proof that the British strain, which bears a similar mutation to the South African one, appeared as early as September in southeastern county Kent – “roughly a month before the South African variant seems to have developed”.
Citing “the extensively shared view of the scientific community”, Mkhize also argued that “the risks of travel bans could outweigh the benefits”.
“Banning travel between UK and SA is unfortunate,” he added.
South Africa is the nation hit hardest by coronavirus on the continent, with shut to one million infections so far and 26,000 individuals dead.
Around 14,000 positive cases were detected on each of the past two days, compared with between 8,000 and 10,000 earlier this week.
Mkhize stated on Wednesday that new restrictions could be essential to slow the virus’ spread.
