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New Covid strain, tighter curbs in UK: What we know so far

London - PM Johnson reverses plans to ease rules over Christmas

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tough new restrictions and social distancing measures for London and nearby areas on Saturday in an attempt to slow the spread of a new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus.

Flowing are details of a new coronavirus variant that has been identified in the United Kingdom

* The new variant is thought to have first occurred in mid-September in London or Kent, in the southeast of England.

* UK analysis suggests it may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the old variant, which could increase the reproduction “R” rate by 0.4.

* There is no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness.

* There is no evidence suggesting vaccines will be any less effective against the new variant.

* The new variant contains 23 different changes, many of them associated with alterations in a protein made by the virus. Vallance said this was an unusually large number of changes.

* It has variants in areas of the virus that are known to be associated with how the virus binds to cells and enters cells.

* The variant has spread quickly in London, the southeast and east of England, becoming the dominant form of the virus in these areas.

* In London, 62 per cent of cases were due to the new variant in the week of December 9. That compared to 28 per cent three weeks earlier.

* In London, the overall infection rate doubled in the last week.

* In areas where the new variant was dominant, hospital admission rates were rising quickly and previously agreed social restrictions were no longer strong enough.

* Vallance said he thought the new variant may be in other countries as well but might have started in the UK.

* The UK submitted its findings to the World Health Organization on Friday night.

Following is a summary of the new restrictions.

New Tier 4

* London and parts of the south east and east of England currently in the highest Tier 3 category will enter a new Tier 4 level of restrictions, roughly equivalent to England’s lockdown in November.

* Residents in Tier 4 areas must stay at home, apart from limited exemptions.

* Non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities, and personal care services must close.

* People must work from home if possible, but may travel to work if necessary, for example in construction and manufacturing.

* People should not enter or leave Tier 4 areas and residents must not stay overnight away from home.

* Individuals can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public space.

* Communal worship can continue to take place.

* The measures will take effect from Sunday morning.

* A next formal review of the tiers system is due to take place on Dec. 30.

Travel

* The government has asked people across the United Kingdom to stay local and consider whether they need to travel abroad.

* People in Tier 4 areas will not be permitted to travel abroad apart from limited exceptions, such as for work.

Christmas

* People in Tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household, but “support bubbles” will remain in place for those at particular risk of loneliness or isolation.

* Across the rest of the UK, rules allowing up to three households to meet will be limited to Christmas Day only, rather than the five days previously set out.

* There will be no relaxation on Dec 31, as previously announced.