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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is concerned about the spread of the Indian variant of coronavirus in his country.

"It's a worrying variant," Johnson said Thursday in response to a study that found greater prevalence of the Indian variant in the UK - 7.7 percent of the 127,000 people tested between April 15 and May 3.

According to the study by Imperial College, the total number of coronavirus cases during the period fell to its lowest level since August 2020. This was due to a strict lockdown and a successful vaccination campaign.

The Indian variant should be watched carefully as it may be more contagious than other mutants.

The publication of the study coincided with plans to loosen lockdown measures in Great Britain on a larger scale.

Johnson said all careful and considered steps should be taken now.

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Some easing is already planned in England: From Monday, people from two households should be able to meet again indoors, pubs and restaurants should also be able to entertain guests indoors.

Similar measures are foreseen in Scotland and Wales in the coming weeks.

The government in London hopes to lift all remaining restrictions on social distance in June.

Vaccinations should be used “effectively”

The government wants to prevent the spread of the Indian corona variant B.1.617.2 with targeted mass tests in affected regions.

In the north-west of England and in London, mobile teams would offer targeted tests and increase the follow-up of contacts, as the British government announced.

In addition, more samples are to be gene-sequenced.

An employee of the Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham disinfects the prayer rooms to mark the impending breaking of the fast

Source: dpa / Jacob King

The state secretary responsible for the vaccination campaign, Nadhim Zahawi, told Sky News on Friday that options are currently being explored as to how vaccinations could be used as effectively as possible.

For example, either second vaccination doses could be brought forward or, in the regions, younger age groups could also be vaccinated, which are actually not yet their turn.

According to statistics from Public Health England, the number of cases of variant B.1.617.2 detected in Great Britain has doubled to a good 1,300 cases within one week.

However, it should not be clear yet whether the mutant eludes the effects of vaccines or causes more serious illnesses.