however I heard an interview this morning with the South African doctor who was the first to find this new strain. She seemed not to be overly concerned as it appears that while it is more infectious, the symptoms are mild with no hospitalisations. So far of course and we will need another two or three weeks to confirm.
I watched the same interview in the UK, closely followed by another specialist warning that the SA age and comorbidity demographics are markedly different from those of many Western populations, so no conclusions can be drawn yet. As you say, another two of three weeks of data gathering required, during which politicians and their advisors across the Western world will (hopefully) prepare for the worst, while we all hope for the best.