Ireland should carefully observe the so-called Indian Covid-19 variant in the UK as the country begins to reopen, according to the the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group. The group, which advocates for an evidence-based approach to pandemic management, discussed the significance of the new Covid-19 variant first identified in India that is now spreading in the UK, and the significance of that on Ireland. The variant is reported to be 50pc more transmissible than the original Covid-19 strain according to UK research, which Dr Dempsey said could be “over-estimated”. The group said opening up foreign travel is “really high risk” as the new variant is spreading in Europe and the UK. After dose one, the Pfizer vaccine had a “range of people still left unprotected” to the new variant, said Dr. Dempsey.

Source: Irish Independent May 27, 2021 14:26 UTC