New Covid-19 variant hasn't yet been identified in New Zealand, but expert says likely to get here

A new, more infectious, variant of the Covid-19 virus identified in the UK is highly likely to make it to New Zealand’s borders, says an expert. The new variant is being blamed for faster-than-expected spread of Covid-19 in London, the southeast and east of England, which have been placed into tighter restrictions over the Christmas holidays. Several other countries have halted flights from the UK in a bid to stop it spreading further. But the Ministry of Health said on Monday the specific new strain identified in the UK had not yet been seen in this country.