Explainer-What we know about the new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa

By Alexander Winning and Alistair Smout JOHANNESBURG/LONDON (Reuters) – Authorities around the world have reacted with alarm to a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa. Britain, the European Union and India are among those announcing stricter border controls as scientists carry out tests to determine if the mutation is more transmissible or infectious than other variants, or is resistent to vaccines. WHERE AND WHEN WAS NEW VARIANT FOUND? South African scientists detected a small number of the variant known as B.1.1.529 on Tuesday in samples taken from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16. On Wednesda…

Read More