Scientists in South Africa say there’s no evidence that the B.1.617 is worse than our local variant

The 501Y.V2 strain produces strong antibodies, but it’s not known how long immunity lasts, so being vaccinated remains essential

The curfew is shorter, alcohol sale times almost normal and more people can meet at religious, social, political and cultural gatherings

Reselling the jabs will prevent money being wasted on a vaccine that is not particularly efficacious on the variant that is dominant in South Africa

Eighty thousand Johnson & Johnson jabs will arrive in South Africa on Tuesday and be taken to 16 sites where healthcare workers will be vaccinated

It is no good waiting for a vaccine or ivermectin or other miracle cures, we just need to do what we can do now

Although the new strain 501Y.V2 of the virus has spread 50% more rapidly, current evidence shows that it is not more severe than the one experienced in the first wave