A coronavirus strain first detected in India has been escalated to a “variant of concern”, Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed today.
Figures show cases of the variant have increased to 520 from 202 over the last week, and almost half of these cases are related to travel or contact with a traveller.
The cases are spread across the country, with the majority in two areas – the North West, predominately in Bolton, and London, PHE said.
The decision to reclassify the variant is based on evidence which suggests it is at least as transmissible as a strain known as the Kent variant, PHE said.
PHE said there is currently “insufficient evidence” to indicate that any of the variants recently detected in India cause more severe disease or make the available vaccines any less effective.
The variant, previously known as B16172, has been reclassified as VOC-21APR-02, PHE said.
PHE health protection teams are working with local authorities, public health officials and NHS Test and Trace to detect cases and limit onward spread.
Surge testing will be deployed where there is evidence of community transmission, PHE added.
Dr Susan Hopkins, Covid-19 Strategic Response Director at PHE said: “We are monitoring all of these variants extremely closely and have taken the decision to classify this as a variant of concern because the indications are that this VOC-21APR-02 is a more transmissible variant.”
And asked about his concerns over the Indian variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I think we’ve got to be very careful about that.
“We’re doing a huge amount, obviously, to make sure that where we do find outbreaks of the Indian variant that we do surge testing, that we do door-to-door testing and isolate it.
“And also have very tough controls on transport and on people coming in.”
Surge testing was being rolled out in parts of Bolton from today after the rise in infection rates.
