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ealth officials are scrambling to locate one of the first people in the UK believed to have contracted the Manaus variant of coronavirus, a new strain that may spread more rapidly and respond less well to existing vaccines.
Six cases of the concerning P.1 variant first detected in the Brazilian city have been confirmed in Britain, three in England and three in Scotland. Two were confirmed in South Gloucestershire but the third English case has not been located.
Public Health England said officials do not have the person’s contact details. Anyone who took a test on February 12 or 13 and has not received a result is being asked to come forward immediately. Critics said the development emphasised the Government’s slow approach to implementing travel curbs.
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Rishi Sunak to pledge £1.65bn funding boost to help get every adult vaccinated for Covid this summer
The UK’s coronavirus vaccine rollout will receive a £1.65 billion boost to help it meet the target of offering a dose to every adult by July 31.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will use his Budget on Wednesday to detail the plan for the new cash to aid the programme, which is a key factor in successfully easing lockdown restrictions.
Mr Sunak will also divert £22 million to fund a “world first” trial to test if different vaccines can be used together, or if a third dose is effective, the Treasury said.
NHS England has begun inviting 60 to 63-year-olds to book jabs, with nearly 20 million people across the UK having received a vaccine.
Ahead of his Commons speech, Mr Sunak said it was “essential we maintain this momentum”.
“Protecting ourselves against the virus means we will be able to lift restrictions, reopen our economy and focus our attention on creating jobs and stimulating growth,” he added.
He will also give £33 million to improve the ability to respond to new variants and improve vaccine testing, including £5 million to create a “library” of Covid-19 jabs.
That cash, like the funding for the vaccine trial, will come from the Vaccine Taskforce’s existing budget.
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