The highly infectious coronavirus mutation that was first discovered in Britain in September last year and has since spread worldwide is between 30% and 100% more deadly than previous strains, a scientific study published on Wednesday revealed.
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Researchers at Exeter University compared death rates among people in Britain infected with the variant, known as B.1.1.7, against those infected with other strains and published their findings in the British Medical Journal.
Dr. Robert Challen, who co-led the research, warned that the threat should be taken seriously due to the mutated strain's high mortality rate and its ability to spread rapidly.
Meanwhile, a UK parliament committee is assailing Britain's massive $32 billion test-and-trace program that had been launched in 2020 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Officials said it had made no clear impact on slowing the country's coronavirus outbreak. Lawmakers on the Public Accounts Committee claimed the system did not achieve its fundamental goal of avoiding a cycle of national lockdowns.
Head of the tracking program Dido Harding defended the project, saying it was essential and was more successful than any other such program in other European countries.
Since its launch, the test and trace system informed 9.1 million people of the need to self-isolate, according to Harding, and played a significant role in lifting Britain's national lockdown.
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