New COVID variant officially named and Javid warns of ‘huge international concern’ as first case found in Europe
No cases of the new COVID variant have been detected in the UK, but it is highly likely it has now spread beyond southern Africa, the health secretary has said.
Sajid Javid warned the new strain could be more transmissible than the Delta variant and there is a “possibility it might have a different impact on individuals” who get the virus.
He said the UK remains in a “strong position” due to the high vaccination take-up but said the new variant, named B.1.1.529, has an “unusually large number of mutations”.
The new variant was first detected in South Africa’s Gauteng province, home to Johannesburg and Pretoria. Pic: AP
The health secretary said it “may also impact the effectiveness of one of our major treatments, Ronapreve”, an antibody treatment being used in the NHS.
Mr Javid said: “There are no detected cases of this variant in the UK at this time. But this new variant is of huge international concern.”
He said the UK was the first country to identify “the potential threat of this new variant and to alert international partners”.
He told the Commons the variant has many features of Alpha, Beta and Delta strains but it is not yet known if it causes more severe illness.
The health secretary was making a statement to the Commons an hour before travel restrictions are brought in for six southern African countries following detection of the new variant.
Flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from 12pm today until 4am on Sunday.
From Sunday onwards, new arrivals of UK and Irish residents into the UK from those countries will be required to quarantine in hotels after they were placed on the red list on Thursday night.
Non UK and Ireland residents will not be allowed in from those countries.
Several other countries have also restricted travel from those six African nations and more are announcing restrictions as Friday goes on.
Mr Javid confirmed the government is still following Plan A for managing COVID-19 this autumn and winter but warned “if we need to go further, we will”.
UK
Leicester City and Leeds United relegated from Premier League as Everton survive on dramatic final day
Leicester City and Leeds United have been relegated from the Premier League as Everton survived on a dramatic final day.
The Toffees secured safety with an 1-0 win over Bournemouth at Goodison Park. They remain one of six clubs to have never been relegated from the Premier League since its creation.
Leicester, who lifted the title only seven years ago, beat West Ham 2-1 at the King Power Stadium but it wasn’t enough to secure their survival due to Everton’s win.
Leeds went down 4-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Harry Kane got a brace but Spurs still miss out on European qualification.
Leeds United’s Robin Koch after Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane scored a goal
Aston Villa will play in the Europa Conference League next season. They were 2-1 winners at home to Brighton.
Manchester City were previously announced as the winners of the Premier League. However, the champions suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Brentford.
Leicester City players waiting to find out the results of other matches
Frank Lampard’s last game as Chelsea interim boss ended in a 1-1 draw to Newcastle.
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest also finished 1-1.
Arsenal thrashed Wolves 5-0, Manchester United beat Fulham 2-1 and Southampton and Liverpool played out a thrilling 4-all draw.
A car was left stranded after parking on a Cornwall beach.
St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team was alerted to the presence of the black BMW at Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes, shortly before 8.30am on Sunday.
Pic: St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team
The team was tasked to ensure everybody in the vehicle was safe and remained at the scene while the car was recovered.
Posting pictures and video of the incident on social media, St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team said: “The vehicle was finally removed. The team stood down and returned to the station at 10.19am.”
Pic: St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team
Read more:
Man rescued after 24 hours stuck on remote cliff
Pic: St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team
The Facebook post ended: “You can’t park there sir!”
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