Coronavirus UK news – Indian variant means 3rd covid wave IMMINENT as home quarantines ‘not working’, SAGE expert warns

BRITAIN may be heading for a third Covid wave as home quarantines “are not working” as cases of the Indian variant continue to rise.

Professor Andrew Hayward, an infectious disease expert and Sage advisior told BBC Breakfast this morning he is “very concerned” about the spread of the B1.617.2 variant.

Asked if the UK is at the start of a third wave of Covid infections, he replied: “I think so.”

Professor Hayward warned the mutation is likely to spread to other parts of the country, adding: “Obviously we’re doing everything we can to contain the spread of that but it’s likely that more generalised measures may start to be needed to control it.”

The Indian B.1617.2 variant has already infected at least 3,000 people since it emerged in mid-April – and is believed to be the dominant strain across 23 areas in the UK, leading to a surge testing blitz.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a Downing Street press conference yesterday: “We are seeing the vast majority of cases, both of the existing variant and of the B1617.2 variant, amongst younger groups and unvaccinated people.

“On the one hand hand that is actually a good sign as it implies the vaccine is working effectively, but obviously we don’t want to see a huge increase in the number of cases everywhere.”

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