Researchers in race to determine whether new strain spreads more easily
The Covid vaccination programme should be ramped up and people told to take extra precautions to help contain the new coronavirus variant that is spreading fast in southern England, a leading scientist has said.
Urgent studies are under way at Porton Down and other specialist laboratories to determine whether the new strain, revealed by Matt Hancock on Monday, spreads more easily or partially evades the immune system, with preliminary research suggesting there are reasons to be concerned.
