00:00We've made great progress with our national vaccination programme against COVID-19,
00:05but we've always been clear that we won't hesitate to act should new threats emerge.
00:10Earlier today, the South African government held a press conference
00:14and they talked about a new variant that they have found called B.1.1.529.
00:21I've been updated on this variant by the UK Health Security Agency
00:25and they have now designated it as a variant under investigation.
00:30The early indications we have of this variant is that it may be more transmissible than the Delta variant
00:37and the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective against it.
00:43What we will be doing is from midday tomorrow,
00:46we will be suspending all flights from six Southern African countries
00:52and we will add in those countries to the travel red list.
00:56Those countries are South Africa, Namibia, Licefou, Eswatini and Zimbabwe and Botswana.
01:05Our scientists are deeply concerned about this variant.
01:09I'm concerned, of course, and that's one of the reasons we've taken this action today.
01:14I will say we don't know enough about this variant.
01:17No one does.
01:17I think probably the UK knows more than most because of the excellent work we do on surveillance.
01:23But I think it is right that we take this approach and we remain cautious.
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