SA confirms COVID-19 variants identified in India, Britain

South Africa’s Department of Health has confirmed variants of the COVID-19 virus first identified in India and Britain, have been detected in South Africa. Two cases of the B.1.617.2 variant - dominant in India - have been reported in Gauteng and another two reported in KwaZulu-Natal. A total of 11 cases of another variant - B.1.1.7, first detected in Britain - have been reported in the country - eight in the Western Cape, one in KwaZulu-Natal and two in Gauteng. Wits University vaccinology expert - Professor Shabir Madhi - says new variants and mutations are inevitable. However, he says the challenge now lies with the country's vaccination programme and whether the vaccines will be effective against the new variant. Today we speak to: • Prof Ames Dhai, South African Medical Research Council & Vaccine Ministerial Advisory Committee.• Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association.• Prof Guy Richards, Critical-care Professor at Wits University