17:00 14 December 2020
New, faster spreading variant of coronavirus detected in UK
A new variant of the coronavirus has been detected in the UK, which is believed to be spreading faster than what is known to date, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Monday.
Hancock said that so far over 6,000 cases of the new virus in 60 different areas have been detected, mainly in the south and south-east of England. This new virus is driving the surges in statistics that have been seen in these areas in recent days.
Hancock said it is spreading faster than a previously-known strain and is believed to be similar to a mutation discovered in other countries in recent months.
The new mutation was first identified in Kent last week during a routine study by the government's Public Health England agency, and members of the government were briefed on Friday.
The health minister said there was currently no evidence that the new virus variant would not respond to nationwide immunization against Covid-19 using a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
(PAP)
