Scientists in France have identified a new variant of the Covid-19 virus with 46 mutations.
The B.1.640.2 variant has infected 12 people living in southeastern France. The strain was discovered by academics based at the IHU Mediterranee Infection on Dec. 10. The 46 mutations mean that the new strain is more resistant to vaccines and more infectious than the Omicron variant.
The first case of the virus was linked to a person who recently traveled to Cameroon.
The World Health Organization says it is not currently concerned about the spread of the new variant. The B.1.640.2 variant was first identified in October, and 20 samples have been sequenced so far, per The New York Times.
Abdi Mahmud, a Covid incident manager with the W.H.O., told reporters in Geneva, “That virus has had a lot of chances to pick up.” In the U.S., the country is grappling with the vast spread of omicron. A whopping 1,018,935 cases were recorded in the U.S. alone on Monday.
On Tuesday, WHO said that more evidence points to omicron as an upper respiratory infection that is less likely to lead to severe illnesses or death.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday said another batch of Pfizer’s Covid-19 treatment pills is shipping this week as the U.S. government.
“I’m pleased to say that on Christmas Eve, we shipped out the first batch of these pills that we purchased and received, and more will be shipped this week,” Biden said in a televised speech. He also urged citizens to keep wearing their masks.
“Folks, I know we’re all tired and frustrated about the pandemic. These coming weeks are going to be challenging. Please wear your mask in public to protect yourself and others. We’re going to get through this,” Biden said. “We have the tools to protect people from severe illness due to omicron if people choose to use the tools.”
