'Deltacron' Covid variant merging Omicron and Delta now being monitored by health chiefs
混合了Omicron与Delta的新武肺变种“Deltacron”
目前被英国卫生当局监控中
镜报
By Sam Truelove News reporter
12:34, 12 Feb 2022
UPDATED 12:36, 12 Feb 2022
英国卫生安全局已在一名英国病患身上确认到新种“Deltacron”病毒。它是Omicron与Delta病毒的混合。
一种Omicron与Delta的混合新武汉肺炎变种已被英国卫生当局正式监控。这个被标示为Deltacron的新变种已在一名英国病患身上被识别到，并且被列在英国卫生安全局每周的“监控中变种”列表。
此新变种据信是在一名同时染上Omicron与Delta变种病毒的病患身上进化出来的。
虽然据闻科学家们相信在此阶段病例数不多，Deltacron的确实病例数仍是个未知数。目前也不清楚此新变种病毒的传染力与毒性。而英国卫生安全局说它只是被列在每周变种病毒简表而已。“因为我们理当监控一切状况”。
东英吉利大学的传染病专家保罗杭特博士告诉每日邮报此新变种“应不会展现出太多威胁”，因为英国已有很高的接种率，并且对原始的Delta变种与Omicron变种已有高水准的抵抗力。
他说“所以此时我不会过度担心。如果Delta与Omicron一同陷进来，依照自然规律，他们应该挣扎着离开”这则消息是来自于每周病例数，显示英国的武汉肺炎情势正持续好转，在报告中病例数、死亡数与住院数全都比上周还低。
最新统计显示该国在过去24小时内纪录了另外58899个武汉肺炎病例，而死亡数上升了193例。
而卫生部门在上周五午后释出的最新统计显示本周的确诊数较过去七天下降了29%。病例数较元旦期间的高峰已大幅减少。1/4的纪录是245182例
然而染上武汉肺炎发症与重症死亡之间的延迟意味着死亡率会在接下来几周攀高。
包里斯强森本周告诉国会他预期会在本月结束所有限制措施，包含在检测出阳性后的自我隔离。这比原本的时程还要早数周。
武肺相关的限制措施将在3/24到期，但强森首相告诉国会若数据持续乐观，他预期他们可以提早一个月结束限制。
这意味着在限制措施实施将近两年之后，只要再过两周，英格兰将第一次得以回到疫情前人们曾享有的自由水准。
但英国卫生安全局已警告撤销所有限制措施将对脆弱族群造成“不成比例的冲击”
在周四此组织的会议中，成员们警告“在检测阳性者的自我隔离要求中增加不确定性也将会不成比例地冲击人口中脆弱的区段。”
他们亦加强关注取消民众免费检测权力的结果，并且持续且明确地向大众发出讯息告知目前仍存在的风险。
The new Deltacron variant, which is a hybrid of the Omicron and Delta strains, has been recognised by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) after it was identified in a UK patient
A new Covid variant that is a hybrid of the Omicron and Delta strains is officially being monitored by health chiefs.
The new variant - labelled Deltacron - has been identified in a UK patient and was named by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in its weekly "variants in monitoring" list.
The new variant is believed to have evolved in a patient who caught both the Omicron and Delta variants at the same time.
The exact number of Deltacron cases is unknown, although scientists at this stage reportedly believe case numbers are 'low'.
It's also unclear how infectious or severe the newly evolved virus is, although the UK Health Security Agency said it was only listed on the weekly variant breakdown because "we monitor everything as a matter of course".
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that the new variant 'shouldn't pose too much of a threat' because of the UK's high vaccine uptake and strong levels of immunity against the original Delta and Omicron strains.
"So at the moment I'm not overly worried at the moment. If both Delta and Omicron are falling then, in theory, this variant should struggle to take off," he said.
The news comes after weekly case numbers showed Britain's coronavirus situation is continuing to improve, with cases, deaths and hospitalisations all down compared to last week.
Latest figures show the country recorded another 58,899 coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, while the death toll has risen by 193.
The latest official figures, released by the Department for Health on Friday afternoon, show a 29% decrease on confirmed infections for this week compared to the previous seven days.
Case numbers have substantially dropped since peaking around New Year’s - with 245,182 recorded on January 4.
However, the lag between catching Covid and falling ill, and then falling seriously ill and dying, means death rates were initially spiking in the weeks after.
Boris Johnson told MPs this week that he expects to end all restrictions, including the requirement to self-isolate following a positive test, this month – weeks earlier than scheduled.
Covid restrictions had been due to expire on March 24, but Mr Johnson told MPs he expects they can end a month sooner if the data continues to be encouraging.
It means in just over two weeks England could be returned to levels of freedom enjoyed before the pandemic, for the first time since restrictions were brought in almost two years ago.
But the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have warned lifting all restrictions will have a “disproportionate impact” on vulnerable people.
In minutes from the group’s meeting on Thursday, members warned: “Increased ambiguity about a requirement to self-isolate upon testing positive will also disproportionately impact vulnerable sections of the population.”
They also raised concerns about the consequences of removing access to free testing and called for “clear and consistent” messaging to the public about the ongoing risks.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/deltacron-covid-variant-merging-omicron-26212049
https://tinyurl.com/2p9hzkz5