當地時間1月22日,英國首相鮑裡斯•詹森表示,有一些證據表明在英國發現的變異新冠病毒可能比舊病毒致死率更高。
「我們今天被告知,現在看來有一些證據表明,最初在倫敦和英格蘭東南部發現的新變種病毒除了傳播速度更快之外,可能與更高的死亡率有關。」詹森在當天的記者會上說道。
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday revealed that there is some evidence that the UK COVID-19 variant is more deadly than others.
"We've been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first identified in London and the southeast, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality," Johnson said during a televised address from Downing Street.
變異新冠病毒使英國新增病例激增,詹森也表示,這使英國國家醫療服務體系承受了巨大的壓力。
同時,他提醒大家必須保持警惕,遵守防疫規則,待在家裡,保護國家醫療服務體系,從而挽救生命。
詹森還指出,英國目前使用的新冠疫苗對舊病毒和變異病毒都有效力,政府仍在按計劃進行疫苗接種——預計在2月中旬前完成四類重點人群的首劑疫苗接種。
英國首席科學顧問派屈克•瓦朗斯提到,雖然還沒弄清原因,但是英國發現的變異新冠病毒的傳染性升高了四成至七成。
瓦朗斯還補充說:「對於六十多歲的新冠患者而言,1000名感染者中平均會有10人不幸死亡。但如果感染的是變異新冠病毒,1000名感染者中大約會有13或14人死亡。」
The UK is experiencing a resurgence in infections driven by the new strain which is spreading quicker than others. Johnson acknowledged that the impact of the new variant was behind the immense pressure the National Health Service (NHS) was experiencing.
"It's more important than ever that we all remain vigilant in following the rules and that we stay at home, protect the NHS and, thereby, save lives," Johnson added.
Johnson also noted that the vaccines currently in use were effective against the old and new coronavirus variants. He said the UK remained on course to achieve its target of offering a first vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups by mid-February.
Government Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance confirmed the new UK variant was transmitting more easily than the old variant.
Vallance said the death rate among COVID-19 sufferers aged in their 60s was 1.3 percent, compared with 1 percent for the first variant.
"Out of 1,000 people aged in their 60s you would expect 10 [patients with COVID-19] to die. With the new variant 13 or 14 would be expected to die," he explained.