WHO classifies India COVID strain as 'variant of concern' 

The B-1617 variant of the coronavirus, first identified in India, has been classified as a variant of concern at the global level by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical Lead at the WHO, said Monday, Report informs, with reference to foreign media.

She also pointed to early studies "suggesting that there is some reduced neutralization," meaning that antibodies appeared to have less impact on the variant in small-sample lab studies.

The WHO insisted though that it was far too early to interpret this to mean that the variant might have more resistance to vaccine protections.

"Based on current data, the COVID-19 vaccines remain effective at preventing disease and death in people infected with this variant," it said in a statement.