The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over . In fact , when it comes to the rise of new variants , the worst may still be yet to come .
That ’s accord to World Health Organization ( WHO ) , who spelled out a unassailable warning this workweek to land hop-skip to loosen their social distancing touchstone amidst rising COVID-19 cases and deaths .
“ The Committee has express concern that the pandemic is being mischaracterized as come to an end when it is nowhere close eat up , ” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , WHO Director - General , said at amedia briefing on July 15 .
“ It has also warned about the strong likelihood for the emergence and worldwide spreading of young and possibly more severe chance variable of business organization that may be even more challenging to master . ”
Variants are the product of genetic mutation , random change in the inherited succession . Mutations are constantly pass in viruses , most of which are inconsequent or harmless – but someacquire worry mutationsthat are predicted or known to impress the viruses ’ transmissibility , disease severity , or immune escape . presently , there are four variate of concern that fit this bracket – Alpha , Beta , Delta , and Gamma – and they have beenlargely responsiblefor the waves of case and deaths we ’ve seen since December 2021.A myriad of factors allowed for the emergence of these variants , but it ’s clear that more COVID-19 cases simply signify there ’s a higher chance a potentially life-threatening mutation will occur .
Since early June 2021 , the world has see yet another undulation of unexampled case . accord toJohns Hopkins COVID Dashboard , there were over 569,000 confirm new case on July 15 – and the trajectory is go on to direct upwards at a worrying angle . Despite this clear resurgence , some country are looking to open border and relax social distancing dominion , hop-skip their vaccination programme has made enough ground to protect the population . However , this is aspirant thinking in the eye of the WHO and many other leading scientist , who fence that the pandemic is far from under control and the easing of restrictions is potential to goad on the founding of raw severe variants of fear .
One notable instance is the UK , whose government has decided to dangle most restrictions in England on July 19 despite raw casing in the land sharply rising and the ongoing presence of thehighly infective Delta variate . In sparkle of this move , more than 1,200 scientists have of late signed anopen varsity letter to the Lancet journalwarning the scheme is dangerous and could allow vaccine - tolerant variant to develop .
“ We believe the government activity is embarking on a dangerous and unethical experimentation , ” the letter take .
“ Preliminary modeling data suggest the political science ’s scheme provides prolific earth for the egress of vaccinum - tolerant variants . This would place all at risk , including those already vaccinate , within the UK and globally , ” it proceed .
