An epidemiologist says it was inevitable for cases of the new Covid-19 variant to be detected in New Zealand

So far six cases of the new strain have been picked up during routine testing.

All of them are in managed isolation.

Otago University's Professor Michael Baker says given how rapidly it's spreading through the UK, it was only a matter of time.

He says the new cases are a bigger risk as people will be more infectious during flights and in managed isolation facilities.