{"id":27354,"date":"2021-04-28T18:24:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T10:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/?p=27354"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T06:49:19","slug":"covid-19-variants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/blog\/covid-19-variants\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Variants: Everything You Need to Know About B117, B1351, B1617, B11281, B11282, B11283 & B1525"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What\u2019s different about these new coronavirus strains? Here\u2019s all you need to know about the evolving coronavirus and the various COVID-19 variants of concern.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s been said that the only constant is change \u2014 unfortunately, this includes mutations in the coronavirus too. As the numbers surge in the aftermath of the second wave of COVID-19 infections in India, people are beginning to pay more attention to the threat of the new COVID-19 variants as well as the varying individual demands of each mutated virus that countries were not prepared for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local updates:<\/strong> Due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, measures have been put in place to control the spread of the virus. Thus, from May 8 till May 30, we’ll be reverting back to Phase 2 for about three weeks<\/a>. This means the closing of indoor gyms and fitness studios, lesser people being allowed into attractions, public libraries, funerals and MICE events, a five-people-limit at gatherings, as well as workplace numbers returning to 50 per cent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep safe, and remember to bring along your TraceTogether token, or download the TraceTogether app, when out and about \u2014 the Trace Together-only Safe Entry will start on May 17, and the scanning of Safe Entry QR codes with phone cameras will be discontinued! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make this page a permanent stay on your tabs for easy future updates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Last updated: 11 May 2021)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guides to Resuming International Travel:<\/strong>
#1: <\/strong>Which Country Can I Travel to Now?<\/strong><\/a>
#2: <\/strong>Which Airlines Are Resuming Flights?<\/strong><\/a>
#3: <\/strong>Future of Air Travel After COVID-19<\/strong><\/a>
#4: <\/strong>When Can We Travel Again: 2023 Forecast<\/strong><\/a>
#5: <\/strong>Immunity Passports to Resume Travel<\/strong><\/a>
#6: <\/strong>Can Singaporeans Travel to Brunei & New Zealand?<\/strong><\/a>
#7: <\/strong>How Airlines Are Wooing You Back Onboard<\/strong><\/a>
#8: <\/strong>Post-COVID-19 Travel Habits<\/strong><\/a>
#9: <\/strong>How Tech & AI Are Helping to Reignite Tourism<\/strong><\/a>
#10: Singapore-Hong Kong Travel Bubble Guide<\/strong>
#11: <\/strong>Everything You Need To Know About Singapore\u2019s COVID-19 Vaccinations<\/strong><\/a>
#12: Travel Corridor vs Travel Bubble: Everything To Know About Flying<\/strong>
#13: COVID-19 Variants: Everything You Need to Know About B117, B1351, B1617, B11281, B11282, B11283 and B1525<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, What\u2019s A COVID-19 Variant?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Pretty much like your iPhone iOS upgrades, viruses, too, are constantly developing. Through the process of mutation, these changes result in the emergence, disappearance, or persistence of new variants. Singapore\u2019s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC) assures that public health officials are studying this large family of viruses aka coronavirus<\/em> \u2014 the COVID-19-causing virus being one type of it \u2014 to further understand if these COVID-19 variants are more prone to, easy-transmissions, causing milder or more severe reactions in people, detection by viral tests, treatment by current medication or COVID-19 vaccines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Types Of COVID-19 Variants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Variant of interest:<\/strong> A variant containing specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes to receptor binding, reduced neutralization by antibodies generated against previous infection or vaccination, reduced efficacy of treatments, potential diagnostic impact, or predicted increase in transmissibility or disease severity. (Source: CDC<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g. P2, B1525<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Variant of concern:<\/strong> A variant for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (e.g. increased hospitalizations or deaths), a significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures. (Source: CDC<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g. B117, P1<\/em><\/strong>, B1617<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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COVID-19 Variants<\/strong><\/td>Origins<\/strong><\/td>In Singapore<\/strong><\/td>Key Attributes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
B117<\/strong><\/td>First detected in the United Kingdom, Sep 2020.

First identified in the United States, Dec 2020.<\/td>		7 local + 181 imported<\/td>\u2022 Variant of concern
\u2022 Most common version of coronavirus in the UK.
\u2022 More contagious due to mutations in the parts of the virus that\u2019s responsible for binding to human cells. <\/td><\/tr>
B1351<\/strong><\/td>First detected in South Africa, Oct 2020

First identified in the United States at the end of Jan 2021.<\/td>		8 local + 158 imported<\/td>\u2022 John Hopkins Medicine<\/a> notes that this variant may have the ability to re-infect people who have recovered from earlier versions of the coronavirus.

\u2022 According to CDC<\/a>, this virus may be harder to neutralise.<\/td><\/tr>
B1617<\/strong><\/td>First identified in India, March 2021. <\/td>10 local + 121 imported<\/td>\u2022 Classified as a \u2018variant of global concern\u2019 by the World Health Organisation.

\u2022  Known as the \u2018double mutant\u2019, this evolved virus possesses the characteristics of two already identified variants, E484Q and L452R

\u2022 More cases of breathlessness, increasing the demand for oxygen.
– May be able to sidestep immunity \u2014 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is partially effective against it.

\u2022 Four Indian strains identified at the moment according to The Straits Times<\/a>:
B1617:<\/strong> detected in 57 imported cases
B16171:<\/strong> detected in three local cases and 11 imported cases
B16172:<\/strong> detected in seven local cases and 52 imported cases
B16173:<\/strong> detected in one imported case
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P1 B11281<\/strong><\/td>First detected in Japan, from four travellers from Brazil, Dec 2020-

First identified in the US, Jan 2021. <\/td>		3 local + 4 imported<\/td>\u2022 Variant of concern

\u2022 Studies have shown the P1 variant to be as much as 2.5 times more contagious than the original coronavirus and more resistant to antibodies

Source: Reuters<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
P2 B11282<\/strong><\/td>Brazil, April 2020<\/td>1 imported<\/td>\u2022 Classified as a \u2018variant of interest\u2019 by the World Health Organisation.<\/td><\/tr>
P3 B11283<\/strong><\/td>Brazil<\/td>1 imported<\/td>\u2022 Known as the Philippine variant, it is said<\/a> to differ substantially within the S protein and protein-coding regions of the virus \u2014 studies are being done to test its ability replicate, transmit, and induce disease.<\/td><\/tr>
B1525<\/strong><\/td>First recorded  in the United Kingdom, Dec 2020<\/td>1 local + 9 imported<\/td>\u2022 Classified as a \u2018variant of interest\u2019 by the World Health Organisation.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How To Combat COVID-19 Variants -\u2014 Are There Added Measures?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> Former Director Tom Frieden warns that variants increase the risk for all age groups because they are more transferable and more deadly. In fact, the number of Covid-19 patients under 40 in intensive care in Brazil has now surpassed older groups at 52%. However, Global News<\/a> assures us that while the mutated viruses are more transmissible, their method of transmission hasn\u2019t changed. Thus, the importance of maintaining existing measures with diligence (i.e. masks, safe-distancing and vaccinations). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Singapore, the Straits Times<\/a> announced a 21-day stay-home-notice for all travellers returning or arriving from India as a safeguard against the new variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a global scale, the Canadian Government announced $9 million to fund the COVID-19 variants rapid response network, or CoVaRR-Net, in a nationwide collaborative effort<\/a> to get a comprehensive grip on the variants. This includes studying them, as well as coordinating their findings with data collected from global public health agencies. This is especially useful for those handling and managing the pandemic right at the frontlines as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Can We Do Now? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Do your part to keep everyone around you, as well as yourself, safe in the midst of this pandemic by practicing good hygiene and safe-distancing! While you\u2019re at it, don\u2019t forget to take a breather <\/a>and remember that you\u2019re not alone<\/a>! We are all looking forward to the day when this pandemic will be a distant but important lesson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not on YouTrip yet? Get free $5 credit when you sign up for YouTrip with promo code <BLOG5<\/strong><\/a>>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more great tips and guides like this, join our Telegram Community (@YouTripSquad)<\/strong><\/a>and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here<\/strong><\/a> or down below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 Vaccine: Peaky Blinders, Disneyland, & Other Surprising Vaccination Hubs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immunity Passports: Will They Help Resume Travel During COVID-19?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

40% Willing to Visit COVID-19 Hotspots in 2021<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Everything<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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