• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
  • Volunteer
    • Internship with The Online Citizen
  • Donation
  • Subscription
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

S.Africa rejects claim its Covid variant more dangerous than UK strain

by The Online Citizen
25/12/2020
in Health, International
Reading Time: 2 mins read
2

South Africa’s health minister has rejected his British counterpart’s claim that a new coronavirus variant in the country is more contagious or dangerous than a similar one in spreading the UK.

“At present, there is no evidence that the 501.V2 (variant) is more transmissible than the United Kingdom variant — as suggested by the British Health Secretary,” Zwelini Mkhize said in a statement published late Thursday.

“There is also no evidence that (it) causes more severe disease or increased mortality than the UK variant or any variant that has been sequenced around the world”.

Announcing restrictions on travel from South Africa Wednesday, Britain’s Matt Hancock had said that the variant there was “highly concerning, because it is yet more transmissible, and it appears to have mutated further” than the similar strain in Britain.

The British minister’s words “have created a perception that the variant in SA has been a major factor in the second wave in UK,” Mkhize said.

“This is not correct.”

He pointed to evidence that the British strain, which bears a similar mutation to the South African one, appeared as early as September in southeastern county Kent — “approximately a month before the South African variant appears to have developed”.

Citing “the widely shared view of the scientific community,” Mkhize also argued that “the risks of travel bans may outweigh the benefits”.

“Banning travel between UK and SA is an unfortunate decision,” he added.

South Africa is the country hit hardest by coronavirus on the continent, with close to one million infections so far and 26,000 people 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 said on Wednesday that new restrictions could be necessary to slow the virus’ spread.

– AFP

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Source: AFP
Tags: AFP
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Recent Posts

  • 32 new cases of COVID-19 infection in S’pore; One new community case
  • No news of investigation into allegations against PAP Ivan Lim 9 months after GE
  • Heng Swee Keat too old at 60 to be PM but PM Lee, pushing 70 is not too old to stay on indefinitely?
  • From “deeply honored” by PM Lee’s and Cabinet colleagues’ trust to “too short a runway” in 2 years
  • PAP’s failed succession plan; Is there more that meets the eye?
  • Myanmar military waging nationwide offensives to crush ethnic support for anti-coup resistance 
  • UK PM hails Philip’s ‘extraordinary life’ as tributes pour in
  • Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip dies aged 99

Trending posts

Seventy-six percent of Singaporeans are confident to pay online with presence of visual cues – Visa survey

PAP’s failed succession plan; Is there more that meets the eye?

Heng Swee Keat too old at 60 to be PM but PM Lee, pushing 70 is not too old to stay on indefinitely?

Chan echoes PM Lee assuring that same team still in place despite Heng stepping aside as 4G leader

Heng Swee Keat throws in the towel as touted successor to Singapore premiership

Progress Singapore Party voices concern over stepping down of DPM Heng as designated PM successor

No news of investigation into allegations against PAP Ivan Lim 9 months after GE

Over S$45,000 raised by Roy Ngerng in two days to pay for defamation damages to Lee Hsien Loong

The Court of Public Opinion took 11 Days while the Courts of Law took over 2 years

Roy Ngerng starts fundraising to pay PM Lee for his outstanding defamation damages; Over S$12,000 raised in a day

Load More
December 2020
MTWTFSS
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031 
« Nov   Jan »
  • About Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donation
  • Subscription
  • Letter submission
  • Contact Us

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

wpDiscuz
2
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply