29 Jul 2021
COVID-19: new virus variants
A number of new COVID-19 virus variants have been identified across the world
- This updates the news item of 17 May 2021
A number of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), have been identified, originating from different countries across the world [1, 2].
Surveillance globally continues to identify changes in the virus; this is to be expected and most new variants are not generally a cause for concern [2-4].
However, it is the variants that increase transmission from person to person or can evade the host immune response that are considered variants of concern, resulting in increased cases and pressure on health care systems globally [2, 4].
Advice for travellers
Countries are assigned to the Department of Transport, England Red List because the public health risk to the UK from known VOC, together with other risk factors, is considered to be high [5].
If the public health risk changes, you may experience disruption to your journey or plans at short notice such as:
- Immediate travel restrictions, including flight cancellations and suspension of entry into the UK. Check with your airline or travel provider before setting out on your journey and also prior to your return to the UK.
- If you are arriving in England and have been in or through any of the "red list" countries in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK unless you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK (where you can enter, but must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days. See guidance for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).
- Not being eligible for the Test to Release scheme on your return.
- Closure of land borders to limit the spread of variants to neighbouring countries.
Travellers are recommended to check their travel insurance policy and to be prepared if time abroad is unexpectedly extended due to the implementation of new restrictions.
Resources
- GAVI; The Vaccine Alliance. What do the new COVID-19 variants mean for vaccine development?
- TravelHealthPro: Medicines and Travel
- World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Virus Evolution
- Public Health England: Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK
- Public Health England: What do we know about the new COVID-19 variants?
- World Health Organization. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants. Last updated 23 July 2021. [Accessed 29 July 2021]
- Public Health England, What do we know about the new COVID-19 variants, Last updated 23 July 2021. [Accessed 29 July 2021]
- Public Health England. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK. Last updated 23 July 2021 [Accessed 29 July 2021]
- ECDC. Rapid Risk Assessment: Assessing SARS-CoV-2 circulation, variants of concern, non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccine rollout in the EU/EEA, 15th update. 10 June 2021. [Accessed 29 July 2021]
- Department of Health and Social Care. Risk assessment methodology to inform international travel traffic light system. Updated 11 May 2021 [Accessed 29 July 2021]
