South African Covid-19 variant may be 'more effective at spreading'

Research still to confirm threat posed but variant does not appear to provoke more serious symptoms

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The South African variant of Covid-19, two cases of which have now been detected in the UK, is likely to be more transmissible, may hit young people harder, and may be slightly more resistant to vaccines, scientists in South Africa believe.

However, research is still continuing to confirm the threat posed by the variant, which does not appear to provoke more serious symptoms or require different treatment.