Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has appealed to anyone who has recently travelled from Brazil to phone any GP or any GP out-of-hours service to arrange a free Covid-19 test after three cases of a new P1 variant of Covid-19 were detected in Ireland for the first time.
The researchers who first discovered the P1 strain in Brazil last month said it contains a unique constellation of mutations that could potentially make it spread more easily, affect the antibody response, and increase the risk of re-infection.
Dr Glynn said further studies are required to determine if the variant is likely to impact on vaccine effectiveness. The unique range of genetic mutation includes one that causes its spike protein to attach more easily,