Saudi shuts borders and Dubai stocks crash over new Covid strain

GULF COUNTRIES - In Brief 21 Dec 2020 by Justin Alexander

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Concerns are growing about a mutation of coronavirus which emerged in September and has become the predominant strain in parts of the UK during December. Preliminary results suggest it may be up to 70% more transmissible, although this is not confirmed. The UK government, which announced more stringent lockdown measures on Saturday, has said there is no evidence that it leads to more hospitalisation or deaths, or that vaccines are less effective against it. However, the variant has 22 genetic mutations, an unusually high number in a short period of time, including 6 that affect the key spike protein which coronavirus uses to enter cells and which vaccines target. Concerningly, the standard PCR test does not detect the spike protein in the new variant, although the PCR also looks at two other parts of the viral genome and so shouldn’t result in false negatives (see SMC). This raises concerns that antibodies resulting from past infection or vaccinations that also target the spike protein might be affected and have reduced efficacy, although this is not yet proven and it will take several weeks of laboratory tests to provide more clarity. The response has been significant, including France closing the border with the UK and many other countries stopping flights from UK or blocking access to British passport holders. Kuwait also suspended flights from the UK last night. However, the variant has already been detected elsewhere and some countries have taken more severe responses, including Saudi Arabia this morning closing its borders entirely for a week, with a potential for extension (SPA). As concerns grow, other countries could take similarly robust action. Regional equi...