Its transmutability now established, the virus risks taking the shine off the breakthroughs scientists have made by refining vaccines for a global rollout.
In Australia, community transmissions have re-emerged in Victoria, just as Sydney's partial lockdown of North Shore beach suburbs failed to stop the virus wriggling into the inner west.
More than three-quarters of the English population are greeting 2021 under the toughest "tier 4" coronavirus restrictions in a situation journalist Lorraine Gibson grimly described as a "happy new tier, everyone". Dark humour appears to be the only form left standing.
The United States seems paralysed by division over what to do next. Vaccination efforts have been sluggish and restrictions too patchy to be effective. "The virus is becoming more fit, and we're like a deer in the headlights," warned Dr Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute.
Yet here, life has all-but returned to normal on our muggy little South Sea islands. Thanks to the hard lessons learned during early mistakes at our borders and by observing overseas ordeals, we have many reasons to look forward to the year ahead.
Our MIQ precautions will screen for this new variant just as efficiently as the other. Our safeguards are not foolproof but they are well-prepared. Realistically, we know lockdowns are a possibility in 2021. But we have done this before - do the mahi, get the result.
There are many reasons to be optimistic. This summer is our first under Covid-19 conditions. It's well documented that the virus prefers cold and less ventilated environs to thrive. Our barefooted, outdoor lifestyle isn't quite carefree, but it's quite unwelcoming to our spiky foe, even a more transmissible one.
Vaccines will begin mid-year, later than many parts of the world but our need is simply not as urgent. UK chief medical officer, Chris Whitty says "there is every reason to think that the vaccines will still work against this new strain".
It's important to remember we remain at Alert Level 1. That means we maintain border restrictions; stay at home when sick, especially with cold, flu or Covid-19 symptoms; maintain good hygiene; wear face coverings, especially on public transport; keep track of where we've been; and keep a distance from people we don't know when out and about.
Most importantly, however, we need to look after ourselves and our whānau over this festive season and summer holidays. The collective "we" got us this far and is our most formidable weapon in taking us through a successful year ahead.
Together, we flattened the curve and then we smashed it - like a slow delivered tennis ball on a white-sanded East Coast beach.
Kiwi can-do versus this malevolent coronavirus? Our money is on the former to give it the jandal.
