New CCP Virus Variant Under Investigation in UK

A laboratory technician uses a pipette device to process samples to test for COVID-19 at Biogroup Laboratory's lab in west London on Jan. 21, 2021. Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

Sixteen cases of a new variant of the CCP virus have been identified in the UK, Public Health England (PHE) revealed on Thursday.

The new variant, VUI-202102/04 (lineage B.1.1.318), has been designated by PHE as a “variant under investigation”.