It's not that recent a variant. UK reported that they had been infested with it since March.
That is not true. The first sample to show the new mutation was collected in Swale in September. It took until almost November for the virus to be decoded by Porton Down. Then it took until last Friday for scientists to be confident that this strain was the one spreading faster then other mutant strains.
I can't emphasize enough the insufficient restrictions have allowed this virus the opportunity to go through many, and increasing iterations, with an ever increasing number of mutations.
I think the public do not understand he scale of the problem.
First thing noticed is a case count rapidly rising. First reaction, is the public is non compliant. (likely). Investigations shows public is largely compliant with prevailing area restrictions. So increase restrictions and look for other explanations.
Multiple samples are sent form affected area to Porton Down. Laborious work of genetic decoding of samples takes place.
Multiple different mutated strains identified, but there is no clue as to the responsible mutant strain is progressively dominating over the other strains.
So testing continues until you find which strain is clearly coming out, and predominating over the others. By the time this work was done this new strain is 60% of cases in Kent.
The overwhelming probability is that this strain is now far more widespread than people want to admit. Sir Patrick Valance feels it is likely widespread in Europe and probably beyond.
I think it is recognized now, that the virus was in fact probably decoded first in the UK, because of the capabilities at Porton Down. This is a unit most people have not heard of previously as it is a military top secret biological and chemical warfare unit, and its activities are a state secret. As stated previously it is over 100 years old and was founded in WW I when the Germans started using mustard gas. So little of its work is known publicly, but in this pandemic it has come into the limelight and has been very busy. They have been a partner with the Jenner institute in the development of the Oxford vaccine.
A few weeks ago the Queen visited Porton Down to personally thank the staff. This is the only trip she has made out of London since the start of the pandemic. This highlights the importance attached to that facility.
On another note there is a huge problem created by France at the Kent ports. They closed their borders, to manned freight for 48 hours. Which would have lasted to midnight tomorrow GMT. However they now say the drivers have to show evidence of a negative test. This is hundreds of tests a day. They also insist they be PCR tests. The problem is that these test will take 24 to 48 hours. In addition to that, there is no certainty which tests can detect this new strain which can not.
As an example my brother James contracted Covid-19 11 days ago. He almost certainly has the new strain, as his office is in Sittingbourne which is in Swale. He lives in Medway at Rainham. Of 8 staff who work in the office, 7 have now come down with the virus. His illness is quite severe actually, but he has not had to go to hospital. I check in with him daily. His O2 sats are just OK, and I think he is turning the corner. His wife has also become ill but with a mild illness. She was tested after my brother. I established they had different tests. My brother's test was positive, but his wife's negative. So that is yet another issue.
So I'm not convinced the French are doing anything with this restriction, but being a nuisance as usual.
