Scientists reveal 200 mutations of COVID-19

"There are several theories on how quickly the virus mutates and what it leads. According to some data, the new coronavirus mutates more slowly than other RNA-containing viruses or the flu virus, characterized by a mutation rate of 1 every ten days."

Ludmila Alimbarova, a leading researcher at the Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after N. F. Gamalei of the Russian Health Ministry, said that studies of COVID-19 genomes in different regions worldwide revealed common ancestor in varieties of the virus. The researchers also identified those parts of IT where changes are most common.

These mutations were compared with the SARS-CoV-1 viruses ( caused so-called SARS pneumonia) and MERS-CoV (caused Middle East respiratory syndrome), which are the precursors of COVID-19. It turned out that while about six changes are known in SARS-CoV-1, and 350 changes in MERS-CoV, approximately 200 mutations have been studied in the new coronavirus. It confirms that COVID-19 continues to adapt to the human body."

Moreover, there is also presumption that the more the virus mutates, the faster it weakens and will be less transmitted from one person to another. It means that the virus may soon become one of the common respiratory diseases that we often encounter in the cold season," she explained.

The specialist also noted that at least six varieties of coronavirus are known to date. However, it is not clear whether each of the mutations has some territorial affiliation or not.