Brief information published on new variant of COVID-19

Public Health England has published brief information about the new variant of COVID-19 that is increasing in Tier 4 areas of England, and could potentially spread to other areas. PHE say the new strain transmits more easily than the previous variant but there is no evidence that it is more likely to cause severe disease or mortality.

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): information about the new virus variant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This is a rapidly changing situation, affecting both restrictions applied by UK and devolved governments and travel arrangements with Europe and other countries.