Japan moves to ban foreign visitors to limit spread of heavily mutated strain

There are quiet concerns in parts of Europe about the Covid beta variant, which was discovered in South Africa.

There are "good reasons" for keeping the new variant out of the UK, scientist Prof Mark Walport says.

It comes amid concern that new virus variants could reverse a decline in new confirmed cases.

The UK government is scrambling to handle a huge increase in coronavirus cases, with pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose

Britain and EU to hold separate emergency meetings on Monday to deal with escalating crisis

Any new virus that emerges has to be able to compete with the "best of class," and right now that is delta, the WHO's Dr. Mike Ryan said.

Portugal, Spain and Germany became the latest EU countries to tighten travel restrictions amid concerns over the fast-spreading Delta variant.

Hospitals are struggling to cope as a highly infectious COVID variant ravages the country. There are questions over vaccine efficacy, and one expert says other strains "will escape."

US biotech firm says its vaccine protects against all emerging strains but is developing the booster for the South Africa one "out of an abundance of caution"

The rule reflects the "increased risk" from a variant linked to two cases in England, officials say.

Genetic mutation that originated in Spain transmitted by returning holidaymakers, researchers find