JOHANNESBURG – A new variant of the coronavirus first identified in South Africa is more contagious than earlier versions, experts said Monday, but there is no evidence that it is more deadly.
The new variant is 50 percent more contagious, said epidemiologist Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co-chair of the health ministry’s scientific committee.
The experts drew their conclusions about the variant – now the dominant strain in South Africa – from an analysis of data collected from the main infection clusters across the country.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Monday said there had been a 23-percent fall in infections – but that the number of hospital admissions was up by 18.3 percent on the previous week.
It was the discovery by South African experts of the new variant – known as 510Y.V2 – that convinced the authorities to introduce new restrictions in December to slow its spread. (AFP)
