The coronavirus variant that first emerged in India is now being transmitted within the UK after three cases were detected that were not associated with travel
"However, background protection from the vaccines overall will probably mean they protect against severe disease and death, although we may continue to see transmission from variants like this for some time," he said.He added that there was currently no evidence that the Indian variant was associated with increased severity of disease.
"I don't think we need to be especially worried about this news unless we begin to see evidence of increased severity, or that it can escape the vaccine protection against severe disease and death, which we haven't seen yet," he said.The PHE report said the three cases not associated with travel were detected on 24 March, 27 March and 8 April.
Meanwhile, the report also revealed that there were now a total of 592 confirmed cases in the UK of the B.1.351 variant that first emerged in South Africa, and which is also believed to evade vaccines.