The 'Indian' Variant and the UK

The surging numbers of the 'Indian' variant 2 (B.1.617.2) of Sars CoV-2 in England, raises concerns about planned 'escapes' from lockdown in May and June. It is also leading people to ask, why travel into the UK from India, was not regulated by quarantine more quickly. Julian Tang (Leicester University) has a useful opinion piece on variant 2 (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/14/indian-covid-variant-vaccines-strain-data ). Tang points out that 'Indian' variant 2, does not appear to contain the 484K/Q mutation This has been linked to some vaccine resistance. He also notes that there is no evidence (as yet), it produces more severe infections. Tang says, however, that this 'Indian' variant probably contains the L452R mutation. This is found in the 'California' variant giving the virus some vaccine resistance, as well as increasing transmissibility. Tang suggests that the most obvious responses the authorities should consider are to a) accelerate the vaccination rate and b) be prepared to delay, if necessary, the planned 'releases' from lockdown rules. Decisions are, anyhow, supposed to be 'led by data, rather than by dates'. Tang has a long analogy, in which he equates the virus with a hunting cheetah and their human 'prey' with antelopes. I think a closer analogy (I know it's less dramatic!) would be to liken the virus to a caterpillar and humans to cabbages. As far as the virus is concerned (it doesn't plan anything as it's only a molecule), humans are just a large and easily exploited resource. Plenty of cabbages to munch and they are planted in rows! These 'cabbages' move around and infect eachother.