The world is at risk of wasting a year of fighting the pandemic because of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2

The fight against Covid-19 is getting tougher with the new variant of the virus that causes the disease. Photo: NurPhoto

The unpredictable changes of the virus and the subjective mentality of people around the world during the holiday season have forced many leaders of countries to speak out and call on people not to waste the "sacrifice" of the past year during the pandemic.

Japan's health ministry yesterday confirmed the country's first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant recently discovered in the UK. All of these people had a history of traveling to the UK and four of them were asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, eight countries in the European region have identified the emergence of the VUI-202012/01 virus variant, which, unlike previous variants, is more likely to spread to younger age groups. British health officials say the new variant is up to 70% more contagious than the original virus, but there is no evidence that it increases the mortality rate or reduces the effectiveness of vaccines.

Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe Hans Kluge recommends that people strengthen protective measures such as ensuring social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands regularly...

Faced with the risk of the fast-spreading variant, many countries have begun tightening entry regulations. Russia announced that anyone entering Russia from the UK must self-isolate for two weeks. Russia had previously suspended flights to and from the UK for a week, starting on December 22. The US also requires all passengers arriving from the UK to be tested for Covid-19. Norway extended its ban on flights from the UK until December 29.

The fight against Covid-19 is not only complicated by the virus's mutation, but there are also concerns about a surge in new cases during the Christmas and especially the approaching New Year holidays. Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has urged people to celebrate the New Year quietly and avoid gatherings with family and friends to curb the recent surge in infections.

"I ask for the cooperation of the public, starting from tomorrow until the end of the New Year holidays. Please take some quiet time during this year-end and New Year holidays. I know there will be many opportunities to spend time with family and friends, so please refrain from holding parties as much as possible so that we can stop the spread of the virus as soon as possible until the end of the New Year holidays," Suga said.

The Chinese government said that the duration of the 2021 "Chunyun" period will be the same as every year, lasting 40 days. However, local authorities and experts in many countries have advised people to limit travel and celebrate the New Year in place to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from re-emerging.

"The world has worked tirelessly all year to achieve results in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The sacrifices to protect human lives during the pandemic should not be wasted during the holidays." This is the message that World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gave amid concerns that the virus could spread strongly during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“As 2020 draws to a close, an unprecedented pandemic is preventing many of us from celebrating the New Year in the way we would like,” said Ghebreyesus. “Instead, hundreds of millions of people are working hard, making enormous and painful sacrifices to stay safe. But in doing so, they are giving the most precious gift of all: health and life. We must not let their sacrifices go to waste, nor the sacrifices of the many families who will not be able to sit down with their loved ones at the family table this holiday season.”