Virus variant ‘a wake-up call’

A newcoronavirus variant detected in South Africa is a ‘‘real wake-up call for all of us’’, Deputy Prime Minster Grant Robertson says. Scientists in South Africa have said the newvariant was a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people. During the 1pm Covid-19 press conference yesterday, Robertson said the newvariant was evidence the pandemic was not over. It had not yet been detected in NewZealand, he said. ‘‘Throughout this pandemic we’ve had to constantly evolve to deal with these mutations,’’ he said.