New Covid Variant Is Sweeping Across Europe, New Pandemic 'Epicenter'

[appalachiablue]

- Paris in March 2020.

'Researchers say New COVID Variant is sweeping across Europe as it becomes new Pandemic "epicenter." Daily Kos, 10/30/20.

Tonight affluent Parisians are fleeing the French Capital for the countryside before a new lockdown begins. It turns out Europe may be reeling from the effects from a new variant of the coronavirus that seems to be sweeping across the continent. A variant designated 20A.EU1.

-- A new coronavirus variant is seen spreading across Europe, research says. By Sam Meredith.

A new variant of the coronavirus, identified as 20A.EU1 by researchers from Switzerland and Spain, was first observed in Spain in June. It has been recorded in Spain at frequencies of above 40% since July, the study said. Elsewhere, the new variant of the coronavirus has increased from “very low” values prior to July 15 to 40% to 70% in Switzerland, Ireland, and the U.K. in September. It was also found to be prevalent in Norway, Latvia, the Netherlands, and France.

Researchers of the study said they had no direct evidence to suggest the new variant of the virus spreads faster than other mutations, despite the rise in frequency across multiple countries. --

This could complicate efforts to grapple with the predicament the pandemic puts us in. For example would the vaccines currently being developed be effective against the new 20A.EU1. variant? It has almost certainly already come to this country. Trump official tests positive for COVID-19 after Europe trip.

Europe got some bad news from the WHO. Once again Europe has become the continent most impacted by the coronavirus, displacing the Americas. The rate of increase is alarming.

-- WHO: Europe again 'the epicenter' of coronavirus pandemic with 10 million cases. BY CAMERON JENKINS.

The 53-country region that makes up Europe under the umbrella of the World Health Organization (WHO) said it reached a record of confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 1.5 million new infections last week, the organization's European director said Thursday. --

Could this mutating virus make the pandemic longer then we would like to contemplate? Lets hope not.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/29/1990930/-Researchers-say-New-COVID-Variant-is-sweeping-across-Europe-making-it-the-new-Pandemic-epicenter
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- A new coronavirus variant is seen spreading across Europe, research says, CNBC, Oct. 29, 2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/29/coronavirus-variant-seen-spreading-across-europe-research-says.html

LONDON — A variant of the coronavirus that is believed to have originated in Spain has spread across Europe and now accounts for most of the new cases reported in several countries in the region, according to the findings of a new study.

The research, which is due to published on Thursday and has not been peer reviewed, details how an international team of scientists has closely monitored the coronavirus through its genetic mutations. Each variant of the coronavirus has its own genetic signature, meaning it can be traced back to the place it first emerged.

It says a new variant of the disease, identified as 20A.EU1 by researchers from Switzerland and Spain, was first observed in Spain in June. The new variant has been recorded in Spain at frequencies of above 40% since July, the study said.

Elsewhere, the new variant of the coronavirus has increased from “very low” values prior to July 15 to 40% to 70% in Switzerland, Ireland, and the U.K. in September. It was also found to be prevalent in Norway, Latvia, the Netherlands, and France...
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- Covid-19: Record traffic around Paris as second French lockdown begins, Oct. 29, 2020.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54742795



- Traffic stretched for a cumulative 430 miles around Paris on Thursday evening as people left for the country before the 9PM Curfew, & Midnight 2nd National Lockdown.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for visibility. n/t

-Laelth

[SergeStorms]

2. Wonderful.

This thing will just keep mutating until it wipes out almost every human on the planet. I'm not at all sure that would be a bad thing, considering how we've treated our host planet this far.

[Laurelin]

6. It's possible

but typically I think viruses become less lethal as they adapt to a new host. It's not in their interest to kill off hosts.

So it may turn out OK. Or not.

[Squinch]

3. Oh, grand.

[BusyBeingBest]

4. I wonder what new variants and mutations the US is working on--

I mean, since around a third of this country (Trump-humpers) haven't even TRIED to contain it, the way Europe did. We're pretty fucked.

[crimycarny]

5. Once again, this is why developing an effective antiviral is key

Antivirals stop a viruses replication mechanism which does not mutate nearly as much. Tamiflu has been out for 21 years now and has been effective against both Influenza Type A and Type B throughout these past 20 years.

An effective antiviral will be key in fighting COVID.