Variants ‘will not keep us in lockdown’

NEW Covid variants are unlikely to scupper Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown, scientists claim.

Concerns heightened after 77 cases of a variant found in India emerged in the UK.

It is feared it may be more resistant to current vaccines.

Prof Adam Finn, who sits on the UK’s vaccination and immunisation committee, said a “gradual erosion” of vaccine protection was likely, but should not delay progress.

Prof Deenan Pillay, of the independent Sage group, also warned against overreacting.

He said: “The vaccines may protect less against different variants, but they are still likely to have some impact on preventing severe disease, hospitalisation and death.”

Both agreed tighter border controls were still needed to keep new variants out.

Prof Pillay said: “For every variant found you can bet your bottom dollar there are others elsewhere that just haven’t been detected.”