We need even tougher curbs to fight this new coronavirus strain
The virus is likely to have spread more widely than the south-east of England, so the lockdown is likely to expand
While the country has obsessed over the Christmas restrictions over the last few weeks the real story lay elsewhere, it transpires. A new strain of the coronavirus emerged a couple of months ago, probably somewhere in the north-east corner of Kent, but went unnoticed for weeks. New viruses emerge all the time, but they usually don't cause problems. And it usually takes a long time for a new strain - starting from just a single case - to become visible to public health authorities.
In fact, we have one of the most comprehensive and sensitive molecular surveillance systems in the world and that allowed us to pick up this strain relatively quickly. However, the virus has also moved fast - very fast - and spread beyond Kent to Essex, London and elsewhere.
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