MutationsIs There More than One Strain of the New Coronavirus?

Published 25 May 2020

Since the emergence of the new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, several researchers have proposed that there is more than one strain, and that mutations have led to changes in how infectious and deadly it is. However, opinions are divided. Written by Yella Hewings-Martin writes in Medical News Today that genetic mutations are a natural, everyday phenomenon. They can occur every time genetic material is copied. Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, several research studies have highlighted variations in the virus’s genetic sequence. This has prompted discussion about whether or not there are several strains, if this has an impact on how easily the virus can infect a host, and whether or not this affects how many more people are likely to die.