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A new variant of the coronavirus has been detected in the UK and is currently under investigation, Public Health England (PHE) said.
The investigation began on Wednesday into the variant currently known as B.1.621. Only 16 cases have been found so far.
The British public health body said there was no evidence yet to show that vaccines were less effective in combating it.
PHE added that it was undergoing lab testing to understand the mutating behavior of the variant, while targeted testing was deployed.
This is because the Delta variant, the main variant of concern in the UK, has been suggested to be 46% more likely to cause re-infections than the Alpha variant which was first found in Kent, according to PHE.
While the overall odds are low, the Delta variant is at a higher risk, according to the latest figures from the health body.
About 1,788 people were admitted to hospital after testing positive for the Delta variant in the weeks of June 21 to July 19.
Among those infected, 54% were not vaccinated while 30%, or 530 people, had received both doses of their vaccine.
A total of 3,692 people have so far been admitted to hospital with the Delta variant.
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