THE Indian variant of the coronavirus being a matter of concern, government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) committee will hold an urgent meeting on Thursday (13) to discuss the spread of the strain in the UK.
It is believed that the variant is spreading faster than the Kent variant in London.
The meeting has been called amid fears that the B.1.617.2 strain is behind half of the infections in London, Bolton, Bedford and South Northamptonshire. This could possibly delay the final step of easing restrictions on June 21.
Professor James Naismith, from the University of Oxford, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday (13), the variant may spread “way beyond” local areas where it has been detected.
Prof Naismith said: “I think we should view it as a country-wide problem.
“It will get everywhere. We keep learning this lesson, but we know that this will be the case.”
He thinks local restrictions would not work to contain the spread of this variant.
“When we tried locally having different restrictions in different regions that didn’t really make any difference. So I don’t think a localised strategy for containment will really work,” he added.
Will there be a delay to the June 21 relaxation of restrictions? Foreign minister James Cleverly said the government makes decisions based on data.
“Scientists on Sage will make their assessments, they will report that to Government, and we will make decisions based on the data and the evidence that they provide.
“The prime Minister, the health secretary, have always been clear that the easing of restrictions which allow us to get back to normality will be done at a pace and in a way which is safe,” he said.
Prime minister Johnson said there is “increasing concern” in the UK about the variant first identified in India.
Imperial College London’s latest React study found, coronavirus case rates halved compared with March, but the new variant could be spreading faster, at least in London.
India recorded more than 4,000 Covid deaths for a second straight day on Thursday (13), while infections were recorded at just below 400,000.
