Prognosis

U.K. Rushes to Vaccinate as Contagious Covid Variant Advances

WATCH; Mayor Khan discusses London’s reopening efforts, concern about India Covid variants, and efforts to rollout vaccines to younger Londoners.(Source: Bloomberg)

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By Todd Gillespie

May 18, 2021 at 4:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

The U.K. is battling to contain a highly contagious Covid variant first discovered in India so it can follow through with plans to fully reopen on June 21.

Authorities have identified 2,323 cases of the Indian strain of coronavirus in the U.K., Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Monday. It represents a far more rapid rate of transmission than other variants, including B.1.351, first detected in South Africa. That’s according to the latest data from Public Health England, which showed the Indian strain had more than doubled in a week. The government has limited entry for travelers from India.