The UK is in a race to tackle the spread of a coronavirus variant first identified in India through rapid vaccination, ministers declared on Wednesday, as they expressed increasing confidence that jabs were effective against all strains of the disease.
Fast growth in cases of the B.1.617.2 variant in several locations across England, including Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen, has cast doubt on whether the government can stick to its plan to lift all coronavirus restrictions by June 21.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said the number of cases of the variant in England had increased to 2,967, up 27 per cent since he outlined previous figures on Monday.
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