Public Health England (PHE) have confirmed they are investigating a new variant of Coronavirus that has been found in the UK.
The government body released a statement to say 16 cases of the new mutation have been detected.
PHE also stated it is currently conducting urgent laboratory testing on the new strain to try and understand its behaviour and any differences it may have from existing variants.
READ MORE: Covid infections in the Liverpool City Region rise again
The statement said: "Sixteen confirmed cases of B.1.621 have been identified across the country to date, and the majority have been linked to overseas travel.
"There is currently no evidence of community transmission in the UK.
"PHE is carrying out laboratory testing to better understand the impact of mutations on the behaviour of the virus."
"There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective.
Discovery of the new variant comes as Covid cases continue to surge across the country due to the onset of the Delta variant.
According to the latest data from Public Health England, the Liverpool City Region recorded 7,951 cases in the week ending July 17, which is 310 more cases than in the previous week.
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