Tegnell is not sure that a flight ban can stop the new corona variant

Anders TegnellPhoto: Claudio Bresciani / TT / NTB

In the long run, it is not possible to prevent the spread of new, infectious variants of the coronavirus, according to Sweden’s state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell.

In several interviews on Friday, he emphasized that little is known about the virus variant that has spread rapidly in South Africa.

“But if it turns out to be a well-adapted variant, then history shows that no one will be able to stop it in the long run,” Tegnell told the newspaper Aftonbladet.

He still believes it may be possible to buy time with a ban on entry to countries that have direct flights to South Africa. This can make it easier to assess how the new variant should be handled.

In countries without direct flights, he believes an entry ban will have little effect.

“In principle, it is impossible to have control of all travel flows,” he told the news agency TT.

It is not yet known whether the corona vaccines are as effective when it comes to the new variant. Tegnell reminded people that several of the vaccines could be adjusted relatively easily if necessary. 

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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