UK adds six countries to red list over super-mutant COVID-19 variant

(News 1st); The UK Health Security Agency sounded the alarm over a new 'worst-ever' super-mutant COVID-19 variant that will make vaccines at least 40% less effective, forcing flights to be banned from South Africa and five other countries. Experts explained earlier how the B.1.1.529 variant has more than 30 mutations, the most ever recorded in a variant and twice as many as Delta – that suggest it could be more jab-resistant and transmissible than any version before it. The variant - which could be named 'Nu' by the World Health Organization in the coming days - has caused an 'exponential' rise in infections in South Africa and has already spread to three countries – including Hong Kong and Botswana, where it is believed to have emerged. In response, the Health Secretary of the United Kingdom announced that flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from midday Friday and all six countries will be added to the red list.