Filenews 3 January 2021
Following the instructions of the European Centre for Infection Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, VOC 202012/01, which was initially detected in the United Kingdom and then in several European states, the Ministry of Health carried out, through the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, a specialized control of samples from people who arrived from the United Kingdom and were positively diagnosed with the virus.
In particular, all positive samples of arrivals from the United Kingdom were sent to ING from the day the United Kingdom authorities announced the existence of the new strain in their country, i.e. 20 December 2020, and up to 15 days ago. More specifically, of the 19 samples from the period 6-20 December 2020 examined, 12 of them identified the VOC 202012/01 strain .
It is noted that the new strain of the virus has been associated with higher viral load, faster spread and higher communicability of up to 70%. The new strain of the virus is thought to have contributed to some extent to the increase in cases in Europe and, consequently, to the increase in nurses.
It is recalled that ecdc recommendations focus, inter alia, on strict compliance with individual protection measures and the intensification of epidemiological and molecular control through laboratory tests.
Source: eyenews
