UK scrambles over doubling of Indian Covid variant cases

LONDON: England remains on track for the latest easing of its coronavirus lockdown next week but is taking no chances after a doubling of cases of an Indian variant, the government said Friday.

Accelerated vaccinations, surge testing and possible local restrictions are all in the mix after infections of the variant rose from 520 last week to 1,313 this week, officials said.

The health ministry said the B1.617.2 variant is ‘beginning to spread increasingly rapidly’ in northwest England and to a lesser extent in London, ‘and decisive action is being taken to further control its spread’.

“But we think that the roadmap for Monday remains in place because the vaccines are delivered, and vaccines are keeping people out of hospital, and of course, away from severe infection,” vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News.

Last month the government added India, which is experiencing a devastating wave of deaths from Covid19, to a travel red list, meaning travellers from the country have to quarantine in hotels on arrival in Britain.

In the northwest English city of Bolton, which has a sizeable population of South Asian origin, mobile testing units have been deployed and door-to-door testing is also on offer to 22,000 residents.

Britain has been gradually reopening its economy, after months of coronavirus restrictions and a successful mass vaccination campaign.

On Monday, indoor mixing is set to resume in England, including in pubs and restaurants. —