Should the UK be worried about the Beta variant in Spain and France?

The resurgence of the South African variant in two popular holiday destinations will be a concern for the UK government

Holidaymakers on a beach in Spain

Tara Hurst, a lecturer in biomedical science at Birmingham City University, on the threat posed by a Covid strain first discovered in South Africa

Most of the world, the UK included, is currently grappling with the Delta variant of the coronavirus. But in parts of Europe there has also been a resurgence of an earlier variant of concern: Beta (B1351). First discovered in South Africa, it has since dispersed globally, but hasn’t yet gained a good foothold in the UK.

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