US scientists fear a surge in Covid-19 infections as cases of new variant emerge

Both California and Colorado have detected cases of the new coronavirus variant first identified in the UK. The mutated version of coronavirus is more transmissible, raising fears that a surge of infections could overwhelm hospitals before people have a chance to get vaccinated. Around just 2 million people have had the jab so far; authorities had been aiming for 20 million by the end of 2020.