WHO: Weeks to take to study new COVID-19 strain

Several weeks will take to study features of the new variant of coronavirus B.1.1.529, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the press secretary of the World Health Organization (WHO), Christian Lindmeier, Report says.

"Early analysis shows that this virus has a large number of mutations that warrant further study. It will take us several weeks to understand the impact of this variant. Researchers are working to better understand the mutations and what they potentially mean in order to how transmissible or virulent this option is,” Lindmeier said.

He added that the potential impact of the new strain of coronavirus on the efficiency of vaccines against COVID-19 and its diagnostic tools is also being studied.