A newly identified COVID mutation in South Africa is being described by officials as the worst version of the virus yet.
The UK Health Security Agency said the variant, called B.1.1.529, was much more likely to evade the immune response generated both by prior COVID-19 infection and vaccination.
This is due to a spike protein that is dramatically different to the original coronavirus variant the vaccines were based on.
South Africa's Health Minister, Joe Phaahlahas, said the country had seen an "exponential rise" in new infections due to the B.1.1.529 variant.