Brazilian coronavirus variant likely to be in Britain already, top scientist warns

The first variant has a small number of mutations and eight genomically confirmed cases of this variant have been identified in the UK.

People pass a Stay Home, Save Lives electronic board in Leicester, England. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

A concerning new strain of coronavirus is likely to already be in Britain despite the UK government imposing a travel ban from affected countries, a leading epidemiologist has warned.

Professor John Edmunds, a member of the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said he would find it “unusual” if the second of two new variants from Brazil was not already present, despite it not yet being detected.