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increased risk Evidence new UK variant of Covid-19 associated with higher mortality rate, Boris Johnson warns

The Prime Minister announced the news at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street (Leon Neal/PA) Expand

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street (Leon Neal/PA)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street (Leon Neal/PA)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street (Leon Neal/PA)

Gavin Cordon

The new variant of coronavirus that has emerged in the UK may be associated with a higher mortality rate, Boris Johnson has warned.

The Prime Minister told a No10 press conference: “We’ve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first identified in London and the South East, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.”

His warning came as the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the variants which had emerged in South Africa and Brazil may be less susceptible to the vaccines that have been developed.

Sir Patrick said there was growing evidence from multiple sources that the vaccines will work against the UK coronavirus strain.

However, he said there was less certainty about the vaccines’ efficacy against those which had appeared in other countries.

“We are more concerned that they have certain features that they might be less susceptible to vaccines,” he said.

Press Association

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