New coronavirus variant may be more deadly, Boris Johnson warns

The new UK coronavirus variant may be more deadly, Boris Johnson has warned.

The new coronavirus variant may be more deadly, Boris Johnson has warned.

Speaking at tonight’s Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister suggested there was some evidence the new UK variant of coronavirus may be linked to a higher death rate.

Mr Johnson said: “I must tell you this afternoon that we’ve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first identified in London and the South East, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.

“It’s more important than ever that we all remain vigilant in following the rules and that we stay at home, protect the NHS and thereby save lives.

“All current evidence continues to show that both the vaccines we’re currently using remain effective both against the old variant and this new variant.”

The UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance explained the coronavirus variant that emerged in Kent is “a common variant comprising a significant number of cases” and transmits up to 70 per cent more easily than the original virus.

He explained: “We think it transmits between 30 per cent and 70 per cent more easily than the old variant. We don’t yet understand why that is the case.

“It doesn’t have a difference in terms of age distribution. It can affect anybody at any age, similarly to the original virus.”

Sir Patrick said that among people who had tested positive, there was “evidence that there is an increased risk” of death for those who have the new variant.

Despite the solemn warning, Sir Patrick insisted evidence was growing from multiple sources that vaccines would continue to work against the UK coronavirus strain.

He said: “There’s increasing evidence from laboratory studies that the variant in the UK will be susceptible to the vaccines.

“There’s increasing confidence coupled with a very important clinical observation that individuals who have been infected previously and have generated antibodies appear to be equally protected against original virus and new variant.”

There were also warnings over the new variants from abroad, with Sir Patrick warning the South African strain could be more resistant to vaccines.

He said: “I think it is too early to know the effect that will have on the vaccination in people and it is worth remembering that the response of the vaccine is very, very high antibody levels, so they may overcome some of this.

“We don’t know, but there’s obviously a cause for concern.”

It came on a day Public Health Scotland said 358,454 people in the country had received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Speaking just one week on from announcing new measures at the border, Mr Johnson also suggested further measures would be needed to tackle the new strain, but did not announce any.

He said: “I really don’t rule it out, we may need to take further measures still.

“We may need to go further to protect our borders.

“We don’t want to put that [all the effort to control the virus] at risk by having a new variant come back in.”

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.