Coronavirus strains keep spreading to more territories

A more infectious strain of coronavirus VOC 202012/01, originally detected in the UK, has been identified in three more countries over the past week, and thus, the number of such countries reached 139, Report informs with reference to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The 501Y.V2 strain found in South Africa has spread to 87 countries, while P.1, originally identified in Brazil and Japan, is now circulating in 54 countries.

WHO weekly epidemiological bulletin says that since April 20, VOC 202012/01 and 501Y.V2 each have been found in three more countries, while P.1 was detected in two.

As of April 27, a total of 139 states reported the presence of VOC 202012/0, 87 countries reported the 501Y.V2 variant, 54 countries reported the presence of the P.1 strain within their borders.

The WHO Emergency Committee earlier called on countries to expand research on the genomic sequence of mutating pathogens of the coronavirus, as well as to share available information with other states.