The emergence of a rapidly-spreading new mutated strain of the coronavirus in South Africa has prompted the country’s government to take steps to contain it. As health experts scramble to understand the impact and implications of this strain – known as 501.V2 – South Africa has become a focus of attention among those monitoring global Covid-19 developments.
What We Know About South Africa’s New Coronavirus Strain
According to the South African Health Minister, the new strain of the coronavirus is thought to have first emerged in Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape province in October. Since then, it has been detected in all nine of the country’s provinces and even beyond, with cases in countries across the continent and as far away as the United Kingdom.
The strain is thought to be more transmissible – up to 50% more so – than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, with some scientists speculating that it could even enable the virus to spread more easily amongst children, though there are no reliable estimates on the age susceptibility to the strain yet.
How South Africa is Responding
In the face of this new development, the South African government has put in place measures to curtail the spread of the virus, including banning the sale of alcohol and a nation-wide curfew. Public events and activities such as concerts, sporting matches and cinemas also remain closed for the time being, and anyone travelling to the country from overseas is required to produce a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their departure.
The government has also established dedicated Covid-19 testing and contact tracing centres, while contact tracing apps were made available in each province. A proactive vaccination program is under development and a 50% surcharge has been placed on the sale of all alcohol, with the funds raised being used to fund the Covid-19 relief efforts in South Africa.
Understandably, South Africans are growingly increasingly concerned about the impact of the new strain, particularly in the wake of reports that the number of Covid-19 cases could almost double between December and January.
Impact of South Africa’s Mutated Strain Globally
The mutation of the virus in South Africa has caused alarm for countries around the world due to its increased rate of transmission, prompting governments to reassess the measures they have in place to protect their citizens from the virus.
The UK took the decision to embargo all air travel from South Africa in response to the emergence of the new strain, announcing that exceptions for British and Irish nationals, along with South African residents will not be allowed until further notice. Restrictions have also been placed on travel from South Africa to other countries, particularly to nations in the Schengen Area.
Despite the global response to the mutated existing, many believe the increased surveillance of South Africa’s Covid-19 developments over the coming weeks could become a key asset to containing the virus further afield. [Kathryn McAuley, World Health Organisation, who is assisting in the war against the virus in South Africa, has called for “vigilance and monitoring” of developments in the country as it “will inform essential decision-making globally”.
Possible Long-Term Impacts in South Africa
With the emergence of this strain that seems to be growing in transmissibility, increased strains on South African healthcare systems are likely, as the pressure to administer the vaccine could likely prove to be too high for the country to successfully manage.
The pandemic has already had a devastating impact on South African society, with the World Bank estimating that seven million people in the country will be pushed into poverty as a result of the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus. Tourism, one of South Africa’s biggest industries, has been set back significantly and may take years to fully recover.
South Africa’s new mutated strain of the coronavirus has caused alarm throughout the world. With the potential for increased transmission, South Africa is taking serious steps to deal with the virus, from introducing travel bans and contact tracing apps to developing a national vaccination program to help combat its accelerated spread.
This strain could have far-reaching implications for the country that may take years for the country and its economy to recover from. However, if the international community works together to assist with containing this variant, the South African healthcare systems may stand a chance at successfully dealing with it.
