Health Secretary Matt Hancock delivering Downing Street coronavirus press briefing

The transcript discusses the UK's strategy to combat new coronavirus variants. It highlights the effectiveness of existing vaccines in preventing severe illness and mortality, the development of booster jabs, and the expansion of UK vaccine production capacity. A partnership with CureVAC aims to create adaptable vaccines for new strains. The UK has secured an additional 50 million doses to prepare for future challenges. Reducing coronavirus cases is crucial to prevent new variants, and the current hospital and mortality rates, though high, are decreasing.

What measures are suggested to reduce the chance of new variants appearing?

What is the current situation regarding hospitalizations and deaths from the disease?