Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has announced that it working on strengthening virus safety measures in the Maldives due to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. 

Scientists in the UK have confirmed that new strain of the virus was discovered. The new strain had a gene change due to mutations according to scientists in the UK.

HEOC spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said that authorities in the Maldives were closely monitoring the new strain and working to strengthen the implementation of current measures.

Dr. Nazla Rafeeq. (File Photo/NEOC)

Reports have cited scientists stating that the new strain of the virus was most likely not as fatal of as the original strain of COVID-19, for which tests and analysis are being conducted. The scientists were also quoted as saying that the new strain spread faster than the original.

The biggest fear is that vaccines recently developed for the virus may not be effective against the virus. However, scientists have so far stated that this was not the case. 

Many nations are once again expressing concern over the new strain as the world slowly reels back from the height of the pandemic. Some nations have even begun banning travel from the UK.