‘Lambda’ Covid variant discovered in the UK

Cases of a new Coronavirus variant that has infected thousands across South America has been discovered in the UK.

Six cases of the Lambda variant have been identified in the country, all of which have been linked to overseas travel.

Public Health England say that the Lambda variant has been designated as a variant under investigation (VUI) due to a rise in international cases and several notable mutations.

In Peru, where it was identified in August, the Lambda variant now accounts for 82 per cent of new infections. And it is also being found in one in three confirmed cases in Chile. It is also spreading rapidly in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.

Pablo Tsukayama and his team at Lima’s Cayetano Heredia University have traced the evolution of the Lambda variant in Peru. He told DW news: "With 187,000 dead and the highest mortality rates in the world, we are the country that has struggled most when it comes to the coronavirus. Therefore, it is probably no wonder the new variant has gotten its start here."

PHE said tests were ongoing and there is currently no evidence this variant causes more severe disease or renders vaccines less effective.

A further 514 people were admitted to hospital in England with Covid-19 in the week up to June 21. Of these, 304 were unvaccinated.