'Alarming' Covid variant in UK could yield tougher restrictions: Report

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he was anxious to avoid another lockdown in the UK due to the coronavirus crisis.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he was anxious to avoid another lockdown in the UK due to the coronavirus crisis.

London, United Kingdom - Britain's government on Monday said a rise in new infections might be partly linked to the new variant.

By Reuters

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Published: Sat 19 Dec 2020, 1:48 AM

Last updated: Sat 19 Dec 2020, 4:15 AM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called senior ministers to an unscheduled meeting on Friday evening to discuss how to contain a new, more virulent variant of the coronavirus, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

The newspaper said there was 'alarming new evidence' of the variant in the UK.


Also read: South Africa has severe Covid-19 variant: Health Minister

An emergency toughening of Covid-19 restrictions could be announced as soon as Saturday, possibly including restrictions on travel between the south east of England, including London, and the rest of the country, the newspaper said.


A spokesman for the prime minister said he was unable to comment on the report immediately.

Britain's government on Monday said a rise in new infections might be partly linked to the new variant as it moved its capital city and other areas into the highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions.

The Telegraph also reported on Friday that government officials expected the AstraZeneca-Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine would clear regulatory approval on December 28 or 29, helping to accelerate the vaccination campaign.

Johnson said on Friday he hoped that England would not need to go into a third lockdown after Christmas.


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