[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by jfman

Well it doesn't hit the news every time. Only where it's identified as a variant of concern by our esteemed scientists, or has the same qualities as one or more of them (and likely will be added).

This could be because it is more transmissible or it evades the vaccines. Considering the success of the vaccine programme to date it's vital that everything is done to ensure that this isn't rapidly undone by an emerging new strain or we are back to lockdown and restrictions. Which we all agree is undesirable.

Keeping R below 1 for now while trying to test, trace, isolate cases is key to future success.

That would be keeping R below 1 for the vaccine susceptible virus. If a more transmissive mutation takes hold, you've got another R number to worry about until the vaccine has been updated and administered.

We really could be in trouble.