The science is telling us that the UK variant is 30-70% more catching. Evidence for the mutation causing more serious illness is very thin. Of course, if it's more catching it will infect more people and will kill proportionately more people. That's how the facts and figures go. The context in the UK, and I'm not wanting to sound smug, is our very good vaccine rollout, so the above numbers game will get more and more sidelined. In a couple of weeks' time almost all in the most vulnerable groups will have been vaccinated, their first jab at least, and the stats for first jab alone providing good protection look optimistic. I'm three months too young to be in those cohorts, but I won't have to wait long. Mrs Steve is getting done tomorrow. It's in the same town as Waitrose, so I can legitimately drive the ten miles to take her there and do the shopping. :-)