The UK, for instance, is gradually moving to end lockdown after another three weeks of it but in a global atmosphere of feared mutation, with scientists thinking of a more contagious variant. A new study is pointing in that direction although some other scientists do not think COVID-19 can escape being scattered by vaccines in the making.
One tentative conclusion is that “The Coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China, has mutated and the new, dominant strain spreading across the U.S. appears to be even more contagious”. Although this believed to have started spreading from Europe, it may not constrain the UK from unhinging the country from the practice of lockdown.
Although the decision is awaiting data to back up whichever direction, the BBC suggests the Prime Minister and the cabinet is moving towards what an interviewer spoke of in terms of innovations in favour of alternatives to lockdown such as exercises. Britain is reported by it to be the worst hit in Europe, with 30, 000 dead.
Meanwhile, the study which is yet to be peer reviewed is being noted because the researchers behind it are considering the numerous attempts at developing vaccines against COVID-19. So, they are adding a caveat against people being disheartened by their documentation of the “mutation and its impact on transmission”.
This idea of the mutating capacity of Coronavirus adds its own dimension to the pandemic, even at the psychological level. Progress so far, however, suggests that the world would overcome, especially if the US and China steps back from making the pandemic a site of their geopolitical tussle.
