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India coronavirus strain declared ‘variant of concern’ in Britain
- Cases of the B. 1.617.2 variant jumped from 202 to 520 over the last week, with almost half of the infections related to contact with a traveller
- Public Health England cited evidence that it spreads more quickly than the original version of the virus
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British health officials on Friday labelled a coronavirus strain first found in India a “variant of concern” due to evidence it spreads more easily, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the situation needed careful handling.
Public Health England designated variant B. 1.617.2, one of three variants identified in India that has spread to Britain, a variant of concern. Surge testing was being carried out in areas where evidence indicates community spread.
Cases of the B. 1.617.2 variant increased to 520 from 202 over the last week, PHE said, mainly in London and the northwest town of Bolton, with almost half of the infections related to contact with a traveller.
“I think we’ve got to be very careful about that,” Johnson told reporters, in reference to the variant.
“We’re doing a huge amount, obviously, to make sure that when we do find outbreaks of the Indian variant that we do surge testing, that we do door-to-door testing.”
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PHE cited evidence that it spreads more quickly than the original version of the virus and could advance as quickly as the so-called “Kent” variant which fuelled England’s second wave of infections.
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