The spread of a COVID-19 variant is threatening plans for England to lift some restrictions Monday. Government anxiety is rising as cases of India's variant continues to spread across the UK - doubling confirmed infections in a week.
Anxious But Optimistic
Late this week Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government was "anxious" about the variant but he remained "cautiously optimistic" that plans to ease restrictions in England will proceed as planned.
The variant is spreading fast in Britain, with the World Health Organization saying the UK has reported more cases than any country outside India.
So far, the variant is most prevalent in London and northwestern areas. But Public Health England said it had measures to track its movement.
England's Progress Hold
The government hasn't ruled out more measures to control the spread.
The government said "economic and social" restrictions may be reimposed in some parts of England - depending on progressive data as authorities test for the variant.
Surge testing has been underway in 15 towns across England.
Eligible groups have also been encouraged to get vaccinated - especially as the Department of Health and Social Care studies if the variant "evades the vaccine."
Eyes On New Strain
Scientists and researchers are taking particular interest in a sub-variant and Public Health England said it might be more easily transmissible - similar to the UK's Kent variant.
The Kent variant triggered Britain's second wave this year and if the sub-variant of the India strain is as transmissible the consequences may be dire if restrictions are eased.
The India variant's transmission could be boosted if it infiltrates households and workplaces, according to professor of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh Rowland Kao.
India Variant A 'Risk'
In its latest assessment Imperial College London said overall infections dropped to their lowest since August.
However, the study also found the variant made up 7.7% of 127,000 confirmed cases between April 15 and May 3. It is worried these will climb in the coming weeks.
Imperial College London professor Steven Riley said even without clear evidence the variant was more transmissible it was still "a risk."
As of Thursday, the UK had reported more than 4.44 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 128,000 deaths.
