New COVID-19 Strain Causes Tensions Between Italy, Britain

The advisor to the Italian Minister of Health, Galter Ricardi, expressed his anger that Britain did not announce the new strain of COVID-19, despite its knowledge of this issue since September, which will push Italy to a very strict lockdown.

New COVID-19 Strain Appears

"The new COVID-19 strain is not fatal, but it spreads at a speed of 70-80% higher," Ricardi said in statements to the newspaper "Messaggero" on Monday, noting that according to British data, "the virus has 3 mutations to better penetrate the nasal mucous."

The advisor to the Italian Minister of Health added that "in these circumstances it will be difficult to reopen schools on January 7, especially in light of the risk of a new increase in injuries during the holidays."

He explained that "the suspension of flights, if it is applied by one country only, will not be effective, but should cover all parts of Europe," and said, "We regret that the British government warned us only now. Our colleagues in the United Kingdom told us that the mutation will not affect the vaccine." But it causes almost double the number of injuries. "