The R-value is an important value that politicians are also looking at with a view to the corona measures. British researchers have now found that the new coronavirus variant increases this value.
The corona mutation is significantly more contagious than the original form of the coronavirus. British scientists have found out, as reported by the BBC. It could increase the R value – i.e. the reproduction number R, which describes how many people an infected person infects on average – by 0.4 to 0.7.
Initially, it was assumed that the corona mutation had spread particularly quickly in Great Britain, especially among under 20-year-olds. However, new findings assume that the new Corona variant is transmitted equally quickly in all age groups.
Because of the spread of the new corona mutation, England is now preparing to reopen its emergency hospitals. As the National Health Service (NHS) announced, makeshift facilities across England are preparing to take in patients.
Numerous European countries have already reported the occurrence of the virus variant discovered in Great Britain. AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot, meanwhile, was confident that the vaccine would also be effective against the new corona mutation.