The Kent Covid-19 variant is likely to sweep the world, said the head of Britain’s genetic surveillance programme.

Professor Sharon Peacock also predicted the battle against coronavirus could go on for another ten years.

Ms Peacock said: “The Kent variant has swept the country and it’s going to sweep the world, in all probability.”

“Once we get on top of [the virus] or it mutates itself out of being virulent – causing disease – then we can stop worrying about it.

“But I think, looking in the future, we’re going to be doing this for years.

“We’re still going to be doing this 10 years down the line, in my view.”