- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that early evidence suggests that the new variant of coronavirus that was detected in England may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.
- The new variant was first discovered in Kent, south-east England, and spread rapidly through London and then across other regions of the UK.
- It was already classified as a more highly-transmissible variant but its risk level was so far not believed to be any greater than the original strain.
- Data suggests that for a man in his 60s, the risk of death with the new variant is 13 in 1,000 rather than the original 10 in 1000, making it about 30 per cent more dangerous.