WHO to scrap interim report as group of scientists press for fresh in inquiry – report; sixteen cases of new UK variant identified so far; Japan to extend Tokyo state of emergency
- White House defends Biden’s ‘Neanderthal thinking’ comment on ending mask mandates
- About 40% of over-80s in England broke Covid rules after jab
- Italy blocks export of 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Australia
- German authorities say over-65s should get AstraZeneca jab
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Scientists have identified 16 cases of a new coronavirus variant in the UK, Public Health England (PHE) has announced.
Cases of the variant, referred to as VUI-202102/04, were first identified on 15 February through genomic horizon scanning. PHE said on Thursday that all individuals who tested positive and their contacts have been traced and advised to isolate. The variant, which is understood to have originated in the UK, was designated a “variant under investigation” (VUI) on 24 February.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a World Health Organization team investigating Covid’s origins is planning to scrap an interim report on its recent mission to China amid mounting tensions between Beijing and Washington over the investigation and an appeal from one international group of scientists for a new inquiry.
It reports that a group of two dozen scientists have written an open letter calling for a new international inquiry, claiming that the WHO team that was in Wuhan last month had insufficient access to investigate conceivable sources of the virus, including a possible laboratory leak.
Continue reading...from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3kNykxp
