Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the recent spike in the B.1.617.2 covid-19 variant on the number of people dying from covid-19.

Public Health England (PHE) is monitoring the B.1.617.2 COVID-19 variant in England.

Of the 5,559 cases of B.1.617.2 recorded in England as of 25 May 2021, PHE recorded 12 deaths within 28 days of the specimen date. 2,854 cases had been recorded by PHE, up to 18 May 2021, with six deaths recorded within 28 days of specimen date.

The latest data on the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investigation-of-novel-sars-cov-2-variant-variant-of-concern-20201201