Sharon Peacock, director of the Genome Studies Complex on COVID-19 Disease in the United Kingdom (UK) said that the new strain of Coronavirus (COVID-19), that was first discovered in the British province of Kent, will likely spread around the world.
Peacock added that the fight against the deadly virus will continue for at least ten years.
She told the BBC that the Kent strain "has invaded the country and is likely to sweep the world."
"When we defeat (the virus) or it mutates by itself and becomes non-virulent, this means it does not cause disease, so we can stop worrying about it." she added. "But looking into the future, I think we will continue this for years. We will continue this for the next ten years in my opinion."
Also from Britain, the CEO of the pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, expected, today, Thursday, that the company's vaccine will have a significant impact on the pandemic, although it is not ideal; the company pledged to double its supplies to more than 200 million doses per month by April (April).
The vaccine, which is given in two doses and was developed with the University of Oxford, was received as a " world vaccine" as it is cheaper and easier to distribute compared to competing ones. It was quickly approved in Europe and elsewhere in the face of doubts about its effectiveness and the time interval between doses.
Data over the weekend also showed that this vaccine is less effective with the fast-spreading strain of Coronavirus that appeared in South Africa and that the company had disagreed with the European Union regarding delayed supplies.
"Is it perfect? No, not perfect, but it is wonderful. Who will make 100 million doses in February? Other than us?" CEO of the company, Pascal Soriot, said in a press conference over the phone about the vaccine. "We will save thousands of lives, so we work every day," he added.
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