UK says Indian variant of coronavirus could spread like ‘wildfire’ - AA

The British health secretary said that the Indian variant of coronavirus could “spread like wildfire” among the unvaccinated.

In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Matt Hancock said there is a “high degree of confidence” that existing vaccines work well against the new variant, but those who are eligible for vaccination have to take up that offer to protect themselves and the country.

England is further loosening up its coronavirus restrictions on Monday, but the final phase of lockdown easing on June 21 is being put at risk by the spread of the Indian variant inside the UK.

Hancock said the new variant can “spread even faster” than the Kent variant – known as the UK variant outside Britain – which caused the UK’s second wave during winter.

He added that the Indian variant is already “becoming the dominant strain in some parts of the country."

Bolton and Blackburn, towns in the northwest of England, are where the Indian variant is taking the deepest hold.

Hancock said that in Bolton, the “vast majority” of those hospitalized with the variant are people eligible for the vaccine but have not taken it up.