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They rule out that a new strain of covid-19 is in Ecuador
Posted On 23 Dec 2020
That the UK found this new variant of Sars-Cov-2 is not by chance, nor does it mean that this is the place where the mutation first appeared. The technical advisor of the Municipality of Quito, Linda Guamán, explained that within the control strategies of the pandemic in that country is the sequencing of the viral genomes of patients with positive PCR tests and for this it allocates 20 million pounds to financing Of the investigation. For every 100 people, the genome of 10 is analyzed; a far greater reach than other nations.
They rule out that a new strain of covid-19 is in Ecuador
For the scientist, it is likely that the mutation is already circulating around the world, so the announcement from the United Kingdom leaves a new lesson in the middle of the pandemic: each country must do a better job monitoring the strains. In Ecuador, according to information provided by the three universities that have the capacity to carry out molecular epidemiology, there are 24 variants and none of them yet corresponds to the one found in Europe. He said that “it is not that he is not in the country, we do not know” and therefore he considers that the Academy should have more resources, whether public or private, to support its investigations.
That a virus mutes is normal and in fact this type of organism seeks to adapt to its host, since if it dies, it becomes extinct with it. That is why what is expected of the coronavirus is not that it becomes more lethal, explained Guamán.
The Government will aim to prevent, especially the entry of people with the disease. The new measures ordered by the National Emergency Operations Committee include, in addition to the presentation of a negative PCR at airports, the application of an antigen test to make the diagnosis more accurate.
According to the Minister of Health, Juan Carlos Zevallos, this finding should not alarm the population but remind them that it is necessary to continue to rigorously apply biosecurity measures, especially during these holidays. He believes that the vaccines will also be effective against this new variant.
The first 50 thousand doses are expected to arrive in January, the priority will be medical personnel and older adults who reside in geriatric hospitals. Starting in March, the immunization plan will begin for the rest of the population. (I)
