COVID-19: How the new variant has become 'dominant' - and why it matters

England's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance warns the new variant of COVID is much more "dominant" than previous strains.

He explains how the virus appears to have mutated and why those changes are causing concern to medical experts.

[danscrivin]

So the new varient was spotted mid September but there only telling us now🤔

[paulhoskin]

People are going to get together for Christmas's no matter what Boris says

[terrythetuffkunt]

I like this theory. Turn england into a third world country, then the imports will leave for a better life in their country of origin.

[timdaugherty]

Ok so what happens if people do mix in a household? Police are called? Get arrested ??

[rossmitchell]

I doubt people care enough now to stick to the 'guidelines' this time around.

[MM-jokg]

A new variant of nothing is still nothing

[charmainkilloran]

So they were allowed to hold dozens of protests in London which the Government did absolutely nothing about...but now we can't have Christmas. Totally illogical

[markcurrie]

Is there any layman’s explanation as to the physics of how the new variant is capable of transmitting more than the original one? Also, is there a possibility that this variant could actually be weaker? They’ve said early indications are it’s not as fatal but could this be a weaker version and if so, would anyone have the balls to be honest with the public ?

[joannesmith]

Its all about money. The more they inflate the numbers, more money the government receives. Even if everyone boycotted testing they would still say that 30, 000 plus tested positive each day. This has never been about protecting the public.

[marksolway]

All the scientists from SAGE I assume. Someone there needs to stop employing Social Psychologists . They are great with basic social engineering and catchy phrases but I reckon we should start getting second opinions from virologists. Just a

[libbydaramola]

All bullshit if u ask me. Changes this changes that my back foot.

[cristeaadrian]

Death rate in 2017 was @t 2018 was @t 2019 was @t 2020 by now is 7.612 a bit higher but don't forget about higher violence and depression this year .So where is the pandemic, is no difference.

[vincentfield]

Your shares in GlaxoSmithKline are looking pretty damn good Patrick!!!

[joyfullone]

Is the new virus variant in South Africa the same or different than this new variant in the U.K.?

[RandomVideosFirst]

"We're in the Endgame now"

[Kuulei]

Okay, well he DID explain it in terms that were comprehensible at least. Now, if the new variant has 23 possible variants, does this mean we could have 23 presentations of the new strain? Number two: Does the CURRENT vaccine protect from the new variant. If not, then we might as well throw out the vaccine and work on improving it to combat the new strain. I say this because the NEW strain is spreading FASTER than the old strain. So, lets say that our current vaccine protects us against “some” of the effects or perhaps the new strain IF our immune system can fight it. I will be watching with interest to see how the news goes on this. What is happening right now, we seem to have numbers rising with more people getting ill. Moving between Tier 1 to whatever is driving the frustration among people. Can we go out now? Yes, NO, goodness WHO does know?

[demosthenesof]

Absolutely, let's go with that assumption .
What harm can it do?

[essexhoop]

How comes 4 years after leave vote they still not sorted it one way or other, but in2 days they finished off Xmas and most of economy.

[MJ]

Who are conducting these new scientific studies and who is paying their salaries ?.

[nicoladouglas]

There is no virus But today I saw a dog walker walking his dog in a cemetery with his mask on!!!!???? Breath the air for god's It's the first time I've laughed in months and the irony is the cemetery holds those fallen who died for our