Covid 19 variant discovered by Yorkshire scientists is 'under investigation'

Public Health England (PHE) said 49 confirmed cases of the variant, known as VUI-21MAY-01 or AV.1, have been recorded in the UK and they are “mainly concentrated in Yorkshire and the Humber” but it is not currently being treated as a variant of concern.

In a statement, PHE said: “There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective.

“PHE is carrying out increased laboratory testing to better understand the impact of the mutations on the behaviour of the virus.”

Scientists from the University of Sheffield detected the variant when they carried out routine surveillance sequencing on nose and throat swabs taken at hospitals in Sheffield in April and May.

Matthew Parker, a bioinformatician involved with the sequencing, said this variant is similar to one found in several countries last year but it has "gained a lot more mutations".

He said: "It has 10 spike mutations in total and three of those are found in other variants of concern. So that's why it's now under investigation.