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Published on: Jan 02, 2021
2 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

COVID-19 Variant: What We Know About This New Mutation

COVID-19 Variant: What we know about this new mutation

In early December a new variant of COVID -19 was detected in the UK, raising concerns across the world. SARS-CoV-2 has already significantly impacted the world, with 84 million cases worldwide and nearly 2 million deaths. Could the new variant cause further havoc? Is it something we should be worried about? Today we will have a look at what we know so far about the virus.

MUTAGENESIS

To start with we should go over viral mutations. Unlike complex organisms, viruses are highly prone to genetic mutations, even more than bacteria. All organisms including humans, birds, even worms, are prone to mutations as well. However due to their complexity, there is much higher risk of mutations causing significant problems with their cellular and genetic processes, problems that are often incompatible with life, or lead to cancer. For this reason, there are significant genetic roadblocks present to prevent such mutations from occurring.

Viruses on the other hand have genetic replication machinery of poor “quality”, prone to introducing mutations. Since they replicate quickly, with little care on which viral particles survive, it matters little if hundreds of viruses do not survive, as further thousands will and continue to spread in their host. It is for this reason we have such difficulty treating viruses or making viruses against them .

COVID VARIANT

The variant was first picked up by the COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium, which undertakes random genetic sequencing of positive COVID-19 samples across the UK. Since April they have sequenced 140,000 virus genomes, to identify and track outbreaks across the UK. The strain was first identified in September and sequenced in early October. However, the significance of this strain was not realized until the end of the year. By 13th December 1108 cases had been identified across 60 different locations, though the true number is likely much higher. In Norfolk, it accounts for nearly 20% of all samples.

17 Variations have been identified, most significantly in the spike protein the virus uses to bind to the ACE2 receptor found in the lungs. Changes in this protein may have resulted in it being more infectious and spreading more quickly between people. A review of current evidence has shown the rate of transmission was 71% higher than the other variants and may also have a much higher viral load. This has given it an advantage over the other COVID-19 strains- it has already been detected in South Africa, Europe, and America, and it is likely to become the dominant global strain in the near future.

It appears children are more susceptible to catching this virus. The virus propagated at a time when schools were open and running, whilst the rest of the country remained in lockdown. This may have provided a larger pool of children for the virus to spread in, resulting in this change. However, this does not mean that the virus “attacks” children, rather it is able to attach to ACE2 receptors in children’s lungs with greater ease and spread quickly.

VACCINE

The most important question on everyone’s mind – will the vaccine be effective against this new strain? If not, lockdown rules may be extended until new vaccines are discovered, and by then newer strains may leapfrog ahead and make the new vaccines irrelevant again.

So far experts believe that the new variant is unlikely to make vaccines ineffective. The vaccines all produce antibodies against the viral spike protein, but so far it appears the mutation has not changed the shape or function of the spike protein enough for antibodies to fail against it. The antibodies should be able to recognize enough sites on the spike protein to successfully attach, neuter the protein, and present the virus for destruction by the body’s immune system. Unfortunately, it will take some time to fully understand the effects of the mutation, though we can remain hopeful for now

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Monthly Health Survey via SecondMedic App: A Smarter Approach to Preventive Healthcare

Healthcare is gradually shifting from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Traditional health models rely heavily on annual checkups or medical visits only after symptoms become severe. However, many chronic and lifestyle-related conditions develop silently over time. The Monthly Health Survey via the SecondMedic App addresses this gap by enabling continuous health monitoring and early risk identification.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and NITI Aayog, early detection and preventive care are critical to reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in India. Digital health tools play a key role in achieving this shift.

What Is the Monthly Health Survey?

The Monthly Health Survey is a structured digital questionnaire delivered through the SecondMedic App. It captures key health indicators such as:

recurring symptoms
lifestyle habits
stress and sleep patterns
nutrition and activity levels
chronic condition markers

By repeating the survey monthly, subtle health trends become visible.

Why Monthly Health Tracking Matters

Annual Checkups Miss Gradual Changes

Many health issues develop slowly. Annual tests may appear normal while symptoms quietly progress between visits.

Monthly surveys:

detect early warning signs
capture symptom patterns
identify lifestyle-related risks

Health Is Dynamic, Not Static

Stress, sleep, diet and activity fluctuate monthly. Regular tracking reflects real-life health variation more accurately than isolated tests.

How the Monthly Health Survey Works

Each month, users answer a guided set of questions related to:

physical symptoms
mental wellbeing
lifestyle behaviours
known medical conditions

The app analyses responses to highlight:

risk trends
symptom persistence
areas needing attention

This structured approach simplifies health awareness.

Key Health Areas Covered

Symptom Monitoring

Persistent fatigue, headaches, breathlessness or digestive issues are tracked across months to identify patterns.

Lifestyle Risk Factors

The survey captures:

sedentary behaviour
sleep quality
stress levels
dietary habits

These factors strongly influence long-term health outcomes.

Chronic Disease Indicators

For individuals with diabetes, hypertension or thyroid conditions, monthly monitoring supports better disease control and early escalation.

Role in Preventive Healthcare

Preventive healthcare focuses on stopping disease before complications arise.

Monthly health surveys support prevention by:

identifying risks early
prompting timely consultations
supporting lifestyle modification
reducing emergency care needs

WHO and NITI Aayog both highlight digital monitoring as a cornerstone of preventive health systems.

Benefits for Individuals

Early Awareness

Users become aware of health changes before symptoms become severe.

Empowered Decision-Making

Access to regular health insights encourages proactive lifestyle choices.

Reduced Anxiety

Structured tracking reduces uncertainty and fear about unexplained symptoms.

Better Doctor Consultations

Survey data provides doctors with a clearer health history, improving consultation quality.

Benefits for Chronic Care Management

For chronic conditions, consistency is key.

Monthly surveys help:

track symptom control
identify early deterioration
support medication adherence
reduce complications

This continuous loop improves long-term outcomes.

Data-Driven Personalised Care

The survey supports personalised care by:

tailoring recommendations
prioritising high-risk users
guiding preventive interventions

This approach moves healthcare from generic advice to individualised guidance.

Privacy and Responsible Use

Health data is sensitive.

The survey framework is designed to:

collect only relevant information
support medical decision-making
maintain confidentiality

Responsible data use builds trust and long-term engagement.

Why Digital Surveys Are Effective in India

India’s healthcare challenges include:

large population
limited access to preventive care
high lifestyle disease burden

Digital surveys overcome barriers by:

being accessible anywhere
requiring minimal time
enabling large-scale preventive monitoring

This scalability makes them highly impactful.

Integration with Broader Health Ecosystems

Monthly health surveys work best when integrated with:

medical consultations
diagnostic services
preventive checkups
digital health records

Integration ensures continuity of care.

Long-Term Impact on Healthcare Outcomes

Over time, regular health tracking leads to:

earlier diagnoses
reduced hospitalisations
better chronic disease control
lower healthcare costs
improved quality of life

Lancet studies show that continuous monitoring significantly improves preventive outcomes.

Who Should Use a Monthly Health Survey?

adults over 30
individuals with chronic conditions
people with high-stress lifestyles
those focusing on preventive health
corporate wellness participants

Proactive monitoring benefits all age groups.

Conclusion

The Monthly Health Survey via the SecondMedic App represents a modern, preventive approach to healthcare. By capturing health trends regularly rather than annually, it empowers individuals to act early, supports doctors with better insights and reduces the burden of advanced disease. In an era where prevention is the most effective medicine, monthly health surveys transform awareness into action and data into healthier lives.

References

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Preventive Healthcare and Early Detection Report
NITI Aayog – Digital Health and Preventive Care Strateg
World Health Organization (WHO) – Digital Health Monitoring Guideline
Lancet – Preventive Healthcare and Continuous Monitoring Studies
National Health Authority – Digital Health Mission Indi
Statista – Digital Health App Adoption Trends India

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