Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) held a meeting today to analyze the new variant of the coronavirus that causes covid-19 discovered in South Africa, and which worries scientists due to the thirty mutations it has developed.

The advisory group of experts of the WHO for new pathogens will analyze from this noon the data that are known from the variant B.1.1.529 together with his South African colleagues, as the head of the organization’s anticovid technical unit, María Van Kerkhove, announced on Thursday.

The decision comes after South Africa confirmed on Thursday the detection of a new variant of the coronavirus, identified as B.1.1.529, which has multiple mutations and which has raised “concern” among specialists because it could make current vaccines less effective. , although its impact has yet to be studied.

“We don’t know much about the variant yet, we know that has a high number of mutations, and the concern is that this affects the behavior of the virus, “said the expert, in the sense that can increase its transmission capacity, or its resistance to treatments, diagnostics and vaccines.

“It will take a few days to see what impact it can have and the potential of vaccines against the variant,” said the American expert, who saw the discovery somewhat positively, since in her opinion it reflects that laboratories continue to effectively control variations in the coronavirus.

The WHO has been warning for months that an excessively slow rate of vaccination, something that still occurs in developing countries, can lead to new, more dangerous variants of the coronavirus, and thus delay the end of the pandemic.

In total, so far, cases of this variant have been confirmed in South Africa, Hong Kong (in a traveler from the African nation) and neighboring Botswana, according to data provided by the South African National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Suspended flights

The United Kingdom and Israel announced on Thursday travel restrictions from several countries in southern Africa due to the detection in South Africa of a new variant of the highly mutable covid-19 that has spread rapidly in the country.

The Government of the United Kingdom has issued a statement in which it has informed that from this friday the flights are suspended from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswutini and Zimbabwe, nations that are thus added to the red list indicating the risk of coronavirus.

As of early Sunday morning, the suspension will be lifted by putting into operation a system of quarantine for travelers from these countries in hotel establishments for ten days.

For its part, the Government of Israel has included South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini In the list of countries whose travelers are prohibited from entering, the Prime Minister’s office, Naftali Bennett, pointed out after a special meeting.

Foreigners from these countries can no longer travel to Israel from those areas, and returning Israelis must be quarantined for up to 14 days in a coronavirus hotel. After a week they can leave if they test negative in a PCR test, while, if they refuse, they will have to remain in quarantine in the accommodation for two weeks.