Indian variant in Europe: Where is it and should we be concerned?

Several European countries have reported cases of the coronavirus strain, and some have restricted travel with India as fears grow.

A so-called “double mutant” version of the novel coronavirus first detected in India has now reached several European countries. Health authorities in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Romania, Switzerland and Belgium have detected cases of the so-called Indian variant, formally known as B.1.617. The cases have raised alarm over a possible rapid spread in infections driven by the strain, which brings together two key mutations on the spike side of the virus previously spotted in other dominant coronavirus variants.