They urged him to press ahead with the final stage of unlocking next month, even if scientists say the fast-spreading Indian variant poses a risk to the small band of anti-vaxxers. Mr Johnson stunned MPs and businesses on Friday night by warning that the Indian variant posed a 'real risk of disruption' to the timetable out of lockdown. But No 10 confirmed yesterday that uncertainty over the Indian variant meant all three announcements could be delayed. In addition to stepping up vaccinations, surge testing is being carried out to monitor what officials describe as the ‘exponential’ spread of the Indian variant. ITV's political editor Robert Peston claimed preliminary data from Oxford researchers showed the jab did not combat the Indian variant as well as Pfizer's or Moderna's.

Source: Daily Mail May 17, 2021 21:03 UTC