The virus may vary but rules stay the same

In fact, the news was something of a relief.

Public Health director Dr Nicola Brink had warned a week ago that the lightning spread of the virus, which has taken the island from single figures to several hundred cases in the blink of an eye, was likely to mean a mutated version of the coronavirus had arrived in the Bailiwick.

Given Dr Brink’s fondness for evidence-based thinking and dislike of unsupported speculation the question then became which mutation, not whether it was one.

Of the multiple options circulating the world the Kent variant is known mostly for being as much as 50% more transmissible and quickly spreading to 70 countries. One small study has suggested that it might have a 30% higher fatality rate, but that has yet to be confirmed.

The good news is that there is no sign yet of the South African variant B.1.351 or its Brazilian counterpart P.1. The worry with both of these is that their genetic mutations make them more resistant to existing vaccines.

We learned yesterday, for example, that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine may be only 10% effective against the South African variant.

The vaccine will still help prevent serious illness and fatalities but with mild and moderate cases unhindered it will be harder to stop the disease spreading through inoculations.

As ever with this pandemic, it is two steps forward and one back. No sooner is the miracle of a slew of effective vaccines confirmed than the new variants start to take hold.

In this ongoing war on several fronts, however, one factor remains consistent.

As Dr Brink says, the best way to fight Covid-19 remains the same: no matter which variant is at large we must keep our distance, wash our hands and wear masks whenever others are nearby.

The weekend’s figures give room for optimism that, by following those basics to the letter, the island can still beat back whichever variants land on these shores.