WHO: The New Coronavirus Strain Is Not out of Control

The situation with a new, more infectious coronavirus strain has not yet got out of control, according to the WHO. Meanwhile, Germany's chief virologist suggests that the new strain has already arrived in the country. While the new and apparently more contagious strain of coronavirus is causing serious concern for authorities around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging not to panic. “Even if the virus is spreading a little more efficiently, it can still be stopped,” said WHO emergency coordinator Michael Ryan on Monday, December 21. According to him, the situation "is not yet out of control." "There is no evidence that the new strain will lead to more severe disease," Ryan said, saying that its resistance to vaccines under development is being tested in several laboratories. According to WHO, the strategy for controlling the new strain remains the same and does not require any changes. Coronavirus strain found in 6 countries Meanwhile, a new mutation of the coronavirus, in addition to the UK, has already been found in five countries - Australia, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. In all of them, with the exception of Denmark, we are talking only about individual cases. A new strain of coronavirus, the spread of which from the UK is feared by the authorities of many EU countries, has not yet been detected in Germany. Experts have linked this new coronavirus mutation to the latest outbreak in the south of the UK. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "up to 70 percent more infectious" than the previously known strain. In London and the southeast of England, due to the appearance of this mutation on Sunday, a tougher lockdown was introduced and Christmas concessions were canceled. In addition to the UK, this strain has also been found in Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia. Is the virus already in Germany? Meanwhile, the director of the Institute of Virology at the Berlin clinic "Charite" Christian Drosten, whom the press calls Germany's chief virologist, believes that the new strain is already in Germany. "The virus appeared at the end of September in England; it was discovered in October. It was later found in Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and even Australia. Why shouldn't it be here?" - said Drosten.