What We Know About The New U.K. Variant Of Coronavirus — And What We Need To Find Out

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December 22nd, 2020

A Coronavirus Tier 4 Stay Home poster near King’s Cross railway station in London, U.K., on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. More than 16 million Britons are now required to stay at home as a lockdown came into force Sunday in London and southeast England, part of Boris Johnsons attempt to control a fast-spreading new strain … Continued

Jason Alden / Bloomberg via Getty Images

A new variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in England and raising international alarms. This new variant now accounts for more than 60% of the cases in London. And scientists say the variant is likely more contagious than previous versions of the virus.

Health officials have closed international travel to the United Kingdom. The British government has locked down much of the country. And scientists all over the world are rushing to figure out how the virus mutated and how big a threat the new variant poses.

Here’s what we know so far:

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