New coronavirus variant identified in Europe

• Published date: 30 March 2021
• Author: JERUSALEM POST STAFF
• Date: 30 March 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The variant, B.1.214.2, has been sequenced 332 times and was first identified in Switzerland, although over half of all the sequences are from Belgium, according to PANGO Lineages (Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak).

The variant has also been identified in France, Britain, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, the US, Senegal, the Netherlands and Bulgaria.

The origin of the variant is still unknown, but it is descended from another one first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in April of last year, according to German international broadcaster.

It is still unclear whether or not the new variant is more contagious or severe.

The variant joins a series of coronavirus variants detected around the world...