A new coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa has been identified in the UK, as scientists warned of the risks posed by the growing number of Covid-19 mutations.
Two cases of the 501.V2 strain, which has caused a recent surge of Covid-19 infections in South Africa, have been identified in contacts of people who had arrived from the country in the past fortnight, Matt Hancock, UK health secretary, said on Wednesday.
“This virus is yet more transmissible and appears to have mutated further than the new [strain detected in the UK]”, Mr Hancock said, adding that the travellers and their close contacts must quarantine immediately.