UK Covid LIVE: Indian variant declared ‘of concern’ by PHE as country passes 21 million cases - latest updates

A Covid variant first detected in India has been declared “a variant of concern” by Public Health England.

There are fears the variant is spreading more quickly and the classification means there will be a ramped up response by health authorities, including the possibility of surge testing.

It comes as Coronavirus infections in India passed 21 million on Thursday after another record day with cases exceeding 400,000.

Demand for medical oxygen continues to outstrip supply in the country as the government was forced to deny reports that it was slow in distributing life-saving supplies from abroad.