UK variant of coronavirus strain detected in 41 countries, says WHO; check list

The 'UK' coronavirus variant has been detected in 41 countries/territories, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement.

"As of 5 January 2021, the VOC-202012/01 variant initially detected in the United Kingdom has been detected in a small number of cases in 40 other countries/territories/areas in five of the six WHO regions, and the 501Y.V2 variant initially detected in South African in six other countries/territories/areas," the WHO said.

On December 14, 2020, the UK announced that a new coronavirus strain had been detected in the country, with the new variant being 70% more transmissible. This variant is referred to as SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 (Variant Under Investigation, year 2020, month 12, variant 01). Most COVID-19 cases from whom this variant has been identified have occurred in people under 60 years of age.

After the news emerged, many countries suspended travel to and from the UK.

Meanwhile, Britain began its third COVID-19 lockdown on Tuesday with citizens under orders to stay at home and the government calling for one last major national effort to stem the virus before mass vaccinations turn the tide.

Britain has been among the countries worst-hit by COVID-19, with the second-highest death toll in Europe and an economy that suffered the sharpest contraction of any in the Group of Seven during the first wave of infections last spring.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new lockdown late on Monday, saying the highly contagious new coronavirus variant first identified in Britain was spreading so fast the National Health Service risked being overwhelmed within 21 days.

Denmark also imposed new lockdown measures on Tuesday aimed at curbing the rapid spread of the new coronavirus variant, the country's prime minister said.

"The mutation is already so widespread that it cannot be stopped." Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a news conference. "But we can delay it and drag out the time so we can vaccinate more people."

Health authorities said they expect the new virus variant to be the dominating one in Denmark by mid-February.

Countries that have reported variants among their populations:

• Australia
• Austria
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong 
• India
• Iran
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Sitzerland
• Taiwan
• Turkey
• UAE
• USA
• Vietnam

UK scientists have also expressed concern that vaccines being rolled out in Britain may not be able to protect against another variant that emerged in South Africa.

(With agency inputs)