In the United States, the first two cases of infection with the “South African” strain of coronavirus were discovered. About this on Thursday, December 28, writes Forbes with reference to the Department of Health and Environmental Control of South Carolina.
The patients do not know each other and live in two different regions of the state. It is known that they have not made trips lately.
On January 24, US President Joe Biden decided to restrict entry to the country for foreign nationals who have recently been to South Africa in order to contain the spread of a new strain of coronavirus. These measures will take effect on January 30.
On January 21, it became known that the strain of coronavirus identified in South Africa poses a significant risk of re-infection. It was noted that this, as well as new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from the UK and Brazil, have spike protein mutations. This allows the virus to remain in human cells and cause infection.
At the same time, scientists expressed concern precisely because of the properties of the mutation present in variants of the coronavirus from South Africa and Brazil. It was clarified that it is resistant to antibodies accumulated in the body of a person who has recovered from COVID-19.
The discovery in South Africa of a new mutation of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 became known on December 19. He was given the marking 501Y.V2.
According to the director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Hans Kluge, by January 28, the “South African” strain of COVID-19 was detected in 16 European countries.