New Covid-19 variant spread slower in SA in August than in July
This could indicate it is unlikely to become dominant in the ways previous mutations such as the Beta and Delta variants have become
SA scientists say a new Covid-19 variant, with a concerning number of mutations, spread at a slower rate in August than it did in July.
The so-called C.1.2 variant accounted for just 1.5% of all virus samples sequenced in the country in August compared with 2.2% in July, according to the Network for Genomic Surveillance SA.
The variant, first identified in SA, has been found in a number of countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Portugal, New Zealand and Switzerland.
The slowing of the spread of the variant could indicate that it’s unlikely to become dominant in the manner that previous mutations such as the Beta and Delta variants have become. The Delta variant, first identified in India, is currently dominant in SA.
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