London to move to highest alert as new coronavirus variant identified in UK

Britain's capital will be placed under highest level of coronavirus restrictions from Wednesday amid a "very sharp" spike in COVID-19 cases in London and its surrounding areas and a new variant of coronavirus being identified as responsible for "faster spre", UK government anunced in Parliament on Monday.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs in House of Commons that "swift and decisive action" was needed as doubling rate of dely virus has hit just seven days in many of se areas.

Tier-3 restrictions, highest level in England's three-tier system, mean a near-complete lockdown, with people allowed to meet those y do t live with only in outdoor settings and hospitality venues directed to shut except for takeaways and deliveries.

"A new variant of coronavirus has been identified in UK, which may be associated with fastest spre in souast of England," said Hancock.

"We do t kw extent to which this is because of new variant but matter its cause, we have to take swift and decisive action which unfortunately is absolutely essential to control this dely disease while vaccine is rolled out…We must act w to shift curve… because when virus moves quickly, we must move quickly too," he said.

minister said that experts h identified over 1,000 cases with variant, predominantly in south of England.

"Cases have been identified in nearly 60 different local authority areas and numbers are increasing rapidly. Similar variants have been identified in or countries over last few months," he said, ding that World Health Organisation has been tified about variant and that it is unlikely to cause more serious disease than or variants of coronavirus.

He stressed that mobile testing and community testing are also being expanded, with ar 67 local authorities getting community testing this week to help areas “move down tiers” and return closer to rmal life.

In reference to Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine rollout currently underway, Hancock said that thanks to science “help is on its way”, but “this isn’t over yet”.

anuncement on Monday means that even ahe of formal review date of tier system scheduled for Wednesday, Greater London, South and West of Essex and South Hertfordshire will be placed into Tier 3 from 0001 GMT on Wednesday morning.