New Covid variant under investigation in UK as 16 cases found
A new variant of coronavirus has been identified in the UK.
Public Health England (PHE) said 16 cases of a strain known as VUI-202102/04 have been detected.
The variant has been designated a Variant Under Investigation (VUI).
It contains the E484K mutation, which scientists have previously said may be more resistant to Covid vaccines.
But it doesn’t feature the the N501Y mutation, found in all variants of concern (VOCs) such as the South African and Brazilian variants.
Cases of the new variant were first identified on February 15 through genomic horizon scanning, according to PHE.
PHE said the cases were geographically spread across the UK and confirmed that surge testing will not be necessary, as this is only rolled out for variants of concern.
Everyone who tested positive for the new variant and their contacts have been traced and advised to isolate.
It means that there are now four variants under investigation being tracked in the UK, in addition to four variants of concern.
It emerged last week that six cases of a ‘variant of concern’, first identified in the Brazil city of Manaus have been detected in the UK. However one person did not complete their Covid-19 test registration, meaning officials have been unable to locate them.
The search has been narrowed to 379 households in the South East.
There is concern that the Manaus variant may be far more infectious than the original, with a study on its spread in the Amazonian city showing it can reinfect up to 61% of people.
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