Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the UK government on Tuesday reported over 33,000 COVID-19 cases along with 262 fatalities within 28 days of a patient testing positive.

UK health officials had informed earlier that they were studying the Delta strain of the coronavirus AY.4.2, which was "designated as a variant under investigation".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-covid-surge-uk-to-send-booster-shot-invite-a-month-early-427232">Also Read:&nbsp;Amid Covid surge, UK to send booster shot invite a month early</a>

The new strain was detected in July even as Delta cases have continued to rise throughout the last month.

Health minister Sajid Javid said today that all workers in the National Health Service(NHS) would have to get vaccinated. Britain's health minister had warned earlier that infections could still rise to 100,000 a day during the winter.

However, the health minister had rejected calls to implement "Plan B" contingency measures instead he said vigilance would be increased while "preparing for all eventualities".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indias-covaxin-to-be-added-to-uk-approved-list-from-november-22-427884">Also Read:&nbsp;India's Covaxin to be added to UK approved list from November 22</a>

Britain is the hardest-hit country after the United States with the death toll climbing to over 142,2900&nbsp;along with more than 9.2 million&nbsp;cases.

Reports say school children have been hit in the lastest outbreak amid slow pace of vaccination for kids.&nbsp;

Authorities had earlier given the go-ahead for COVID-19 booster shots. Britain has witnessed an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases since September even as the majority of the population has been&nbsp;vaccinated.

Boris Johnson's government had started the vaccination campaign last December ahead of several countries.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had said last month that the UK would scrap the remaining countries from its "red list" allowing the flow of tourists into the country. However, Shapps added that the red list category will remain as a "precautionary measure" as countries may be added, "if needed".

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the UK government on Tuesday reported over 33,000 COVID-19 cases along with 262 fatalities within 28 days of a patient testing positive.

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the UK government on Tuesday reported over 33,000 COVID-19 cases along with 262 fatalities within 28 days of a patient testing positive. UK health officials had informed earlier that they were studying the Delta strain of the coronavirus AY.4.2, which was "designated as a variant under investigation". Also Read: Amid Covid surge, UK to send booster shot invite a month early The new strain was detected in July even as Delta cases have continued to rise throughout the last month. Health minister Sajid Javid said today that all workers in the National Health Service(NHS) would have to get vaccinated. Britain's health minister had warned earlier that infections could still rise to 100,000 a day during the winter. However, the health minister had rejected calls to implement "Plan B" contingency measures instead he said vigilance would be increased while "preparing for all eventualities". Also Read: India's Covaxin to be added to UK approved list from November 22 Britain is the hardest-hit country after the United States with the death toll climbing to over 142,2900 along with more than 9.2 million cases. Reports say school children have been hit in the lastest outbreak amid slow pace of vaccination for kids. Authorities had earlier given the go-ahead for COVID-19 booster shots. Britain has witnessed an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases since September even as the majority of the population has been vaccinated. Boris Johnson's government had started the vaccination campaign last December ahead of several countries. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had said last month that the UK would scrap the remaining countries from its "red list" allowing the flow of tourists into the country. However, Shapps added that the red list category will remain as a "precautionary measure" as countries may be added, "if needed". (With inputs from Agencies)

Virus cases continue to surge in Britain

The UK&nbsp;variant of the novel coronavirus does not increase the severity of Covid-19 compared to other strains, according to research published Tuesday that also confirmed its increased transmissibility.&nbsp;

The strain, known as B.1.1.7, was identified in Britain late last year and has become the most common strain in the United States, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But two studies published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and The Lancet Public Health journals found no evidence that people with B117 experience worse symptoms or a greater risk of developing long Covid than those infected with different variants.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pints-and-primark-britons-mark-lockdown-easing-with-a-sup-and-a-shop-377060">Pints and Primark: Britons mark lockdown easing with a sup and a shop</a>

The research found however that the variant was associated with a higher viral load and reproduction rate than normal variants.

Authors of the first study looked at data from 341 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 late last year when B117 was running rampant across southeast England.

They found that 58 percent of those patients had B117, while 42 percent had non-B117 Covid-19.

Of those infected with B117, 36 percent became severely ill or died, compared with 38 percent of those with non-B117, suggesting that there was no association between B117 and heightened risk of severe infection.

Patients with the variant tended to be younger, and infections of B117 occurred more frequently in ethnic minority groups, the data showed.

“Our data, within the context and limitations of a real-world study, provide initial reassurance that severity in hospitalised patients with B.1.1.7 is not markedly different from severity in those without,” the researchers said in the study.

The authors also analysed the transmissibility by looking at data generated by PCR testing. They found that samples of B117 tended to contain greater quantities of the virus than non-B117 swabs.

Commenting on the first study, Sean Wei Xiang Ong, Barnaby Edward Young and David Chien Lye from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, said that the findings were in contrast to three previous studies suggesting that B117 was deadlier than other variants.

However they said the Lancet study had the benefit of having used whole-genome sequencing as well as a good variety of patient and disease outcomes.

"The finding that lineage B117 infection did not confer increased risk of severe disease and mortality in this high-risk cohort is reassuring but requires further confirmation in larger studies," said the experts, who were not involved in the research.

A second study analysed self-reported data from 36,920 British users of a Covid-19 symptom app who tested positive between September 28 and December 27 last year.

They found that the B117 variant had a reproduction rate 1.35 times higher than normal coronavirus variants, but also found no evidence of increased disease severity.&nbsp;

The UK variant of the novel coronavirus does not increase the severity of Covid-19 compared to other strains, according to research published Tuesday that also confirmed its increased transmissibility.

The UK variant of the novel coronavirus does not increase the severity of Covid-19 compared to other strains, according to research published Tuesday that also confirmed its increased transmissibility. The strain, known as B.1.1.7, was identified in Britain late last year and has become the most common strain in the United States, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But two studies published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and The Lancet Public Health journals found no evidence that people with B117 experience worse symptoms or a greater risk of developing long Covid than those infected with different variants. Also see| Pints and Primark: Britons mark lockdown easing with a sup and a shop The research found however that the variant was associated with a higher viral load and reproduction rate than normal variants. Authors of the first study looked at data from 341 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 late last year when B117 was running rampant across southeast England. They found that 58 percent of those patients had B117, while 42 percent had non-B117 Covid-19. Of those infected with B117, 36 percent became severely ill or died, compared with 38 percent of those with non-B117, suggesting that there was no association between B117 and heightened risk of severe infection. Patients with the variant tended to be younger, and infections of B117 occurred more frequently in ethnic minority groups, the data showed. “Our data, within the context and limitations of a real-world study, provide initial reassurance that severity in hospitalised patients with B.1.1.7 is not markedly different from severity in those without,” the researchers said in the study. The authors also analysed the transmissibility by looking at data generated by PCR testing. They found that samples of B117 tended to contain greater quantities of the virus than non-B117 swabs. Commenting on the first study, Sean Wei Xiang Ong, Barnaby Edward Young and David Chien Lye from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, said that the findings were in contrast to three previous studies suggesting that B117 was deadlier than other variants. However they said the Lancet study had the benefit of having used whole-genome sequencing as well as a good variety of patient and disease outcomes. "The finding that lineage B117 infection did not confer increased risk of severe disease and mortality in this high-risk cohort is reassuring but requires further confirmation in larger studies," said the experts, who were not involved in the research. A second study analysed self-reported data from 36,920 British users of a Covid-19 symptom app who tested positive between September 28 and December 27 last year. They found that the B117 variant had a reproduction rate 1.35 times higher than normal coronavirus variants, but also found no evidence of increased disease severity.

UK coronavirus variant not linked to more serious infections: Study

British regulators have approved the world's first coronavirus human challenge trial, in which volunteers will be deliberately exposed to the virus to study how the infection spreads.

The government said Wednesday that the UK's clinical trials ethics regulator has approved the trial and it will start within a month. The aim is to develop more effective vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.

Researchers are seeking up to 90 volunteers aged 18-30, who will be exposed to COVID-19 ''in a safe and controlled environment.''&nbsp;

The study will try to determine the smallest amount of virus needed to cause infection.

Young people are being asked to volunteer because they have the lowest risk of serious illness from the coronavirus. Participants in the study will be monitored 24 hours a day.

Britain is aiming for a "cautious but irreversible" plan to exit coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, as the first batch of travellers entered an enforced and expensive new hotel quarantine regime.

The government is targeting another 17 million people by the end of April, including everyone aged 50 and above, plus starting on second doses for the first wave.

The government intends next Monday to lay out a roadmap for easing its third stay-at-home order in England, which has shut down schools, non-essential businesses and hospitality venues since early January.

Schools could reopen on March 8, officials hope, and Johnson said he would set down "as much as we possibly can about the route to normality even though some things are very uncertain".

"Because we want this lockdown to be the last, and we want progress to be cautious but also irreversible."&nbsp;

With more than 117,000 Covid deaths, Britain is one of the world's worst-hit countries. But the daily figure for new cases on Monday dipped under 10,000 for the first time since October 4.&nbsp;

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was "some way to go" before easing restrictions, adding that the government was awaiting key data on the effect of vaccines on transmission.

British regulators have approved the world's first coronavirus human challenge trial, in which volunteers will be deliberately exposed to the virus to study how the infection spreads.

British regulators have approved the world's first coronavirus human challenge trial, in which volunteers will be deliberately exposed to the virus to study how the infection spreads. The government said Wednesday that the UK's clinical trials ethics regulator has approved the trial and it will start within a month. The aim is to develop more effective vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Researchers are seeking up to 90 volunteers aged 18-30, who will be exposed to COVID-19 ''in a safe and controlled environment.'' The study will try to determine the smallest amount of virus needed to cause infection. Young people are being asked to volunteer because they have the lowest risk of serious illness from the coronavirus. Participants in the study will be monitored 24 hours a day. Britain is aiming for a "cautious but irreversible" plan to exit coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, as the first batch of travellers entered an enforced and expensive new hotel quarantine regime. The government is targeting another 17 million people by the end of April, including everyone aged 50 and above, plus starting on second doses for the first wave. The government intends next Monday to lay out a roadmap for easing its third stay-at-home order in England, which has shut down schools, non-essential businesses and hospitality venues since early January. Schools could reopen on March 8, officials hope, and Johnson said he would set down "as much as we possibly can about the route to normality even though some things are very uncertain". "Because we want this lockdown to be the last, and we want progress to be cautious but also irreversible." With more than 117,000 Covid deaths, Britain is one of the world's worst-hit countries. But the daily figure for new cases on Monday dipped under 10,000 for the first time since October 4. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was "some way to go" before easing restrictions, adding that the government was awaiting key data on the effect of vaccines on transmission.

UK approves trial deliberately exposing volunteers to virus

COVID-19 cases in India are shrinking in comparison to the other countries of the world.

Coronavirus has&nbsp;caused at least 2,400,543 deaths since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019.

At least 108,785,960 cases of&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;have been registered. Of these, at least 66,547,800 are now considered recovered.

The United States is the worst-affected country with 485,337 deaths followed by Brazil with 239,245, Mexico with 174,207.&nbsp;

The western nations are the hardest hit. In the United States, a&nbsp;batch of seven homegrown mutations has emerged.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the&nbsp;kent variant has become a 'variant of concern'

WATCH|

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-west-is-struggling-with-wuhan-virus-363892/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Britain is aiming for a "cautious but irreversible" plan to exit coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, as the country greeted the first arrivals subject to a new&nbsp;hotel&nbsp;quarantine&nbsp;regime.

The policy, designed to fight emerging variants of the coronavirus, requires all UK citizens and permanent residents entering England from 33 "red list" countries to self-isolate at their own expense in an approved&nbsp;hotel&nbsp;for 10 days.

Germany&nbsp;said on Monday its decision to impose border controls with the Czech Republic and Austria is a temporary measure of last resort and defended a lockdown extension against business demands for a roadmap to reopening.

The new restrictions along the normally open borders were prompted by alarm over outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region of strains of the coronavirus that spread faster and cause more illness.

Germany&nbsp;installed frontier checks on Sunday, drawing protest from Austria and concerns about supply-chain disruptions that could damage the country's export-oriented manufacturing sector.

As India edges closer towards defeating the pandemic, the struggle is still not over for many countries.&nbsp;

Highly contagious coronavirus mutations such as Robin 1 in the US, Pelican in Mexico are spreading quickly.&nbsp;

How widespread are these variants?

Researchers are not sure how&nbsp;widespread these variants are but the cases are surging.

The United Kingdom is one of the worst affected countries with almost 115,000 deaths from the virus, while authorities hope the peak has passed.

The number of cases has topped 3.9 million but new cases, hospitalisation figures and death rates have fallen steeply.

England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty said last week the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic appeared to have peaked.

In early January, the government imposed a fresh lockdown and closed schools after a dramatic rise in cases at the end of 2020, linked to the new more infectious&nbsp;variant&nbsp;first found in&nbsp;Kent, southeast England.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is hoping to start lifting lockdown on March 8, banking on its mass vaccination drive to cut infection rates.&nbsp;

France's Health Ministry has asked regional health agencies and hospitals to enter "crisis organisation" to prepare for a possible surge in coronavirus cases as a result of highly contagious variants.

The move, which would echo measures taken in March and November when&nbsp;France&nbsp;went into lockdown, involves increasing the number of hospital beds available, delaying non-urgent surgery and mobilising all medical staff resources.

French President Macron said, ''Timing and scale are absolutely critical. We have to maximize but we have to deliver vaccines very rapidly otherwise we will give a window of opportunity to the virus to create new mutants in the coming months and to come back in this new form in the high-income countries a few months later.''

The west is still overwhelmed by the pandemic. There is a glaring gap between expectations and the actual performance of western nations.

COVID-19 cases in India are shrinking in comparison to the other countries of the world. Coronavirus has caused at least 2,400,543 deaths since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019.

COVID-19 cases in India are shrinking in comparison to the other countries of the world. Coronavirus has caused at least 2,400,543 deaths since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019. At least 108,785,960 cases of coronavirus have been registered. Of these, at least 66,547,800 are now considered recovered. The United States is the worst-affected country with 485,337 deaths followed by Brazil with 239,245, Mexico with 174,207. The western nations are the hardest hit. In the United States, a batch of seven homegrown mutations has emerged. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the kent variant has become a 'variant of concern' WATCH| Britain is aiming for a "cautious but irreversible" plan to exit coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, as the country greeted the first arrivals subject to a new hotel quarantine regime. The policy, designed to fight emerging variants of the coronavirus, requires all UK citizens and permanent residents entering England from 33 "red list" countries to self-isolate at their own expense in an approved hotel for 10 days. Germany said on Monday its decision to impose border controls with the Czech Republic and Austria is a temporary measure of last resort and defended a lockdown extension against business demands for a roadmap to reopening. The new restrictions along the normally open borders were prompted by alarm over outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region of strains of the coronavirus that spread faster and cause more illness. Germany installed frontier checks on Sunday, drawing protest from Austria and concerns about supply-chain disruptions that could damage the country's export-oriented manufacturing sector. As India edges closer towards defeating the pandemic, the struggle is still not over for many countries. Highly contagious coronavirus mutations such as Robin 1 in the US, Pelican in Mexico are spreading quickly. How widespread are these variants? Researchers are not sure how widespread these variants are but the cases are surging. The United Kingdom is one of the worst affected countries with almost 115,000 deaths from the virus, while authorities hope the peak has passed. The number of cases has topped 3.9 million but new cases, hospitalisation figures and death rates have fallen steeply. England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty said last week the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic appeared to have peaked. In early January, the government imposed a fresh lockdown and closed schools after a dramatic rise in cases at the end of 2020, linked to the new more infectious variant first found in Kent, southeast England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is hoping to start lifting lockdown on March 8, banking on its mass vaccination drive to cut infection rates. France's Health Ministry has asked regional health agencies and hospitals to enter "crisis organisation" to prepare for a possible surge in coronavirus cases as a result of highly contagious variants. The move, which would echo measures taken in March and November when France went into lockdown, involves increasing the number of hospital beds available, delaying non-urgent surgery and mobilising all medical staff resources. French President Macron said, ''Timing and scale are absolutely critical. We have to maximize but we have to deliver vaccines very rapidly otherwise we will give a window of opportunity to the virus to create new mutants in the coming months and to come back in this new form in the high-income countries a few months later.'' The west is still overwhelmed by the pandemic. There is a glaring gap between expectations and the actual performance of western nations.

How countries are still struggling due to coronavirus pandemic

More than 15 million people in Britain most vulnerable to coronavirus have received a first vaccination dose, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Sunday, hailing the "significant milestone".

"This country has achieved an extraordinary feat, administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country," Johnson said on Twitter alongside a video message.

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Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s national vaccination programme. 
 
This country has achieved an extraordinary feat - administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country. <a href="https://t.co/wPKCXPT8Td">pic.twitter.com/wPKCXPT8Td</a>
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1360962200714764290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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After becoming the first in the world to approve a vaccine, the British government set an ambitious target to reach care home residents and staff, frontline health and care workers, all those aged 70 or over and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-reiterates-us-concerns-and-criticism-over-who-covid-19-mission-to-china-363563" hreflang="en">Britain reiterates US 'concerns' over WHO COVID-19 mission to China</a>

Britain's vaccination programme&nbsp;is seen as one of few successes in the government's handling of a pandemic in which the country has suffered a higher death toll and worse economic damage than its peers. The UK's total population is about 67 million.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-coronavirus-ravaged-economy-slumped-by-99-363310/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sky News on Sunday he was confident the government would hit the vaccination target but said it was too soon yet to discuss when restrictions could be lifted.

Prime Minister Boris&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;will set out on Feb. 22 the government's plans to end the lockdown and has said he wants schools to reopen on March 8.

Raab told the BBC he shared concerns about the level of access given to a World Health Organization COVID-19 fact-finding mission to China, echoing criticism from the United States.

The White House on Saturday&nbsp;called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the novel coronavirus outbreak, saying it had "deep concerns" about the way the findings of the WHO's COVID-19 report were communicated.

Raab also downplayed the risk of the European Union taking business away from the City of London after Brexit, saying the real challenges come from New York, Tokyo and other areas.

More than 15 million people in Britain most vulnerable to coronavirus have received a first vaccination dose, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Sunday, hailing the "significant milestone".

More than 15 million people in Britain most vulnerable to coronavirus have received a first vaccination dose, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Sunday, hailing the "significant milestone". "This country has achieved an extraordinary feat, administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country," Johnson said on Twitter alongside a video message. Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s national vaccination programme. This country has achieved an extraordinary feat - administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country. pic.twitter.com/wPKCXPT8Td — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 14, 2021 × After becoming the first in the world to approve a vaccine, the British government set an ambitious target to reach care home residents and staff, frontline health and care workers, all those aged 70 or over and the clinically extremely vulnerable. Also read: Britain reiterates US 'concerns' over WHO COVID-19 mission to China Britain's vaccination programme is seen as one of few successes in the government's handling of a pandemic in which the country has suffered a higher death toll and worse economic damage than its peers. The UK's total population is about 67 million. Foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sky News on Sunday he was confident the government would hit the vaccination target but said it was too soon yet to discuss when restrictions could be lifted. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out on Feb. 22 the government's plans to end the lockdown and has said he wants schools to reopen on March 8. Raab told the BBC he shared concerns about the level of access given to a World Health Organization COVID-19 fact-finding mission to China, echoing criticism from the United States. The White House on Saturday called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the novel coronavirus outbreak, saying it had "deep concerns" about the way the findings of the WHO's COVID-19 report were communicated. Raab also downplayed the risk of the European Union taking business away from the City of London after Brexit, saying the real challenges come from New York, Tokyo and other areas.

'Significant milestone': UK hits target to vaccinate 15 million most at risk from coronavirus

When the former US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;got infected by the deadly coronavirus, he claimed to have tried experimental Regeneron's synthetic antibody treatment, which reportedly worked as a magical cure against the virus.

Now, the company has said that it&nbsp;remains effective against the British and South African variants of the novel coronavirus, the US biotechnology company announced Wednesday.

The US&nbsp;Food and Drug Administration last month issued emergency use authorisation for the antibody therapy for use in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients who are not currently hospitalised.

REGEN-COV,&nbsp;featuring potent neutralising antibodies called imdevimab and casirivimab,&nbsp;remained effective against both variants, the company said in a statement, although casirivimab's potency against the South African variant was "reduced."

The drugmaker said in September the cocktail reduced viral levels and improved symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Study participants included those who produced an effective immune response on their own (seropositive), and those whose immune response was not yet adequate (seronegative).

Seronegative patients treated with the antibody cocktail had a lower risk of death or needing mechanical ventilation, the company said.

Scientists from New York's Columbia University arrived at the same conclusion, and their study has been submitted for peer review.

The study's "pre-publication," however, presents more worrying results concerning another synthetic antibody, bamlanivimab: It is "inactive" against the South African variant, according to researchers.

This antibody is used in the treatment developed by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which has also been approved for emergency use in the US.

Bamlanivimab will likely also be ineffective against the new Brazilian variant, since it presents mutations similar to the South African variant, scientists said.

Regeneron expects its antibody treatment will be effective against the Brazilian variant. Studies are underway to confirm this.

"These data show the continued ability of REGEN-COV to neutralise emerging strains, further validating our multi-antibody cocktail approach to infectious diseases," said George Yancopoulos, Regeneron's president and chief scientific officer.

"With two complementary antibodies in one therapeutic, even if one has reduced potency, the risk of the cocktail losing efficacy is significantly diminished.

"We have hundreds of additional potent, neutralising antibodies in our labs that could form new combinations that might be useful against future variants," he added.

Like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, mutates constantly as it reproduces.

But the mutation observed in the South African variant is particularly worrying to scientists due to its ability to bypass the remedies developed so far.

The US had confirmed 308 cases of the British variant as of January 26 and one case of the Brazilian variant, Rochelle Walensky, the new head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday.

No cases of the South African variant have yet to be confirmed in the US.

When the former US President Donald Trump got infected by the deadly coronavirus, he claimed to have tried experimental Regeneron's synthetic antibody treatment, which reportedly worked as a magical cure against the virus.

When the former US President Donald Trump got infected by the deadly coronavirus, he claimed to have tried experimental Regeneron's synthetic antibody treatment, which reportedly worked as a magical cure against the virus. Now, the company has said that it remains effective against the British and South African variants of the novel coronavirus, the US biotechnology company announced Wednesday. The US Food and Drug Administration last month issued emergency use authorisation for the antibody therapy for use in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients who are not currently hospitalised. REGEN-COV, featuring potent neutralising antibodies called imdevimab and casirivimab, remained effective against both variants, the company said in a statement, although casirivimab's potency against the South African variant was "reduced." The drugmaker said in September the cocktail reduced viral levels and improved symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Study participants included those who produced an effective immune response on their own (seropositive), and those whose immune response was not yet adequate (seronegative). Seronegative patients treated with the antibody cocktail had a lower risk of death or needing mechanical ventilation, the company said. Scientists from New York's Columbia University arrived at the same conclusion, and their study has been submitted for peer review. The study's "pre-publication," however, presents more worrying results concerning another synthetic antibody, bamlanivimab: It is "inactive" against the South African variant, according to researchers. This antibody is used in the treatment developed by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which has also been approved for emergency use in the US. Bamlanivimab will likely also be ineffective against the new Brazilian variant, since it presents mutations similar to the South African variant, scientists said. Regeneron expects its antibody treatment will be effective against the Brazilian variant. Studies are underway to confirm this. "These data show the continued ability of REGEN-COV to neutralise emerging strains, further validating our multi-antibody cocktail approach to infectious diseases," said George Yancopoulos, Regeneron's president and chief scientific officer. "With two complementary antibodies in one therapeutic, even if one has reduced potency, the risk of the cocktail losing efficacy is significantly diminished. "We have hundreds of additional potent, neutralising antibodies in our labs that could form new combinations that might be useful against future variants," he added. Like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, mutates constantly as it reproduces. But the mutation observed in the South African variant is particularly worrying to scientists due to its ability to bypass the remedies developed so far. The US had confirmed 308 cases of the British variant as of January 26 and one case of the Brazilian variant, Rochelle Walensky, the new head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday. No cases of the South African variant have yet to be confirmed in the US.

Donald Trump's coronavirus 'cure' effective on UK, South African variants