Picture by Tono BalaguerThe Indian variant of Covid-19 threatens to scupper the Government’s hopes of a return to foreign travel later in the summer. The Cabinet is to discuss the return of international tourism this week with plans for “a travel bubble” between Ireland and the UK on the agenda. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) confirmed on Friday that 41 cases of the Indian variant of concern — B1617.2 — have been detected in Ireland. Scientists in the UK have said the Indian strain could be 50pc more transmissible than the so-calledKent or UK strain, which was blamed for the ferocity of the third wave in Ireland. The B1617 was declared a variant of concern last week by the World Health Organisation, which said it might be resistant to vaccines.

Source: Irish Independent May 16, 2021 01:33 UTC