News Direct's video: What we know about the new coronavirus strain

For story suggestions or custom animation requests, contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw. Visit http://archive.nextanimationstudio.com to view News Direct's complete archive of 3D news animations. RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Concerns are growing over a new variant of the coronavirus blamed for a sharp rise in cases in the UK. The new strain, referred to as B.1.1.7 or VUI-202012/01, contains 23 mutations and other changes to its genome, according to a Reuters report. BBC News reports officials in the UK have suggested that the new strain may be 70 percent more transmissible than other forms of the virus. RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1. New COVID strain has 23 mutations and other changes to its genome 2. New strain may be 70 percent more transmissible 3. Areas where the new strain has been detected 4. Broad symptoms of new strain 5. N501Y H69/V70 deletion mutations to spike protein genome 6. Areas that have restricted travel to the UK VOICEOVER (in English): "Concerns are growing over a new variant of the coronavirus blamed for a sharp rise in cases in the United Kingdom." "The new strain, referred to as B.1.1.7 or VUI-202012/01, contains 23 mutations and other changes to its genome, according to a Reuters report." "Officials in the UK have suggested that the new strain may be 70 percent more transmissible than other forms of the virus." "The variant is spreading rapidly through London and the southeast of England and has spread across the UK, except Northern Ireland, the BBC reports." "The strain has spread to Denmark, Australia and Gibraltar, according to the British government." "It has also been detected in the Netherlands and Italy, according to the BBC." "Reuters reports there is no clear evidence that the new strain causes a more severe form of COVID-19. The key symptoms of the new strain — high temperature, persistent dry cough and a loss of or change in taste and smell — remain the same." "The BBC reports two mutations to the virus's spike protein have been identified which appear to help the virus spread more easily." "One mutation called N501Y alters the spike protein's 'receptor-binding domain,' which the virus uses to bind to and pry open human cells." "The other mutation is called an H69/V70 deletion. Research suggests this mutation increases infectivity two-fold in lab experiments and makes survivor's antibodies less effective at attacking the virus." "According to a CNN report, as of 12 p.m. Eastern Time on Dec. 21, more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East have restricted travel from the UK to limit transmissions of the new strain." SOURCES: MIT Technology Review, BBC News, UK Government, New York Times, GISAID Initiative, CNN https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/12/21/1015315/the-uk-is-spooking-everyone-with-its-new-covid-19-strain-heres-what-scientists-know/ https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55388846 https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/new-and-emerging-respiratory-virus-threats-advisory-group https://khub.net/documents/135939561/338928724/SARS-CoV-2+variant+under+investigation%2C+meeting+minutes.pdf/962e866b-161f-2fd5-1030-32b6ab467896?t=1608470511452 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/21/health/new-covid-strain-uk.html https://www.gisaid.org/references/gisaid-in-the-news/uk-reports-new-variant-termed-vui-20201201/ https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/uk-travel-ban-coronavirus-variant/index.html *** ----------------------------------------­­---------------------------------------­-­---------------- Next Animation Studio’s News Direct service provides daily, high-quality, informative 3D news animations that fill in for missing footage and help viewers understand breaking news stories or in-depth features on science, technology, and health. Sign up for a free trial of News Direct's news animations at http://newsdirect.nextanimationstudio.com/trial/ To subscribe to News Direct or for more info, please visit: http://newsdirect.nextanimationstudio.com