Australia has detected its first case of the South African variant of coronavirus in hotel quarantine. What do we know?

As coronavirus infections in South Africa continue to surge, Australia has detected its first case of a new, potentially fast-spreading variant linked to the country.

Queensland authorities yesterday announced a woman who had tested positive for COVID-19 in hotel quarantine was infected with the new “South African” variant, known as 501.V2.

So what is this new strain of the virus and just how worried should we be by its arrival in Australian quarantine?

Here’s what we know so far.

Where has this new variant come from?

The new variant of coronavirus is believed to have originated in South Africa and was first discovered there in mid-December.

It is different from the…