UK variant of coronavirus reaches Belarus

The UK variant of coronavirus has been found in Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry. Yelena Gasich, head of the laboratory for diagnostics of HIV and associated infections, said that the center conducts continuous genotyping to determine mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in or imported into the country. The first samples of the UK variant were identified in people who arrived from abroad - Poland, Ukraine, Egypt. Several cases of local transmission of the UK variant were also confirmed.The press service added that the COVID-19 pandemic is aggravated, among other things, by mutations of the pathogen. This is common for RNA genomic viruses (for example, influenza, HIV). Thus, it is of paramount importance to track mutations, observe social distancing and conduct vaccinations. The new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, dubbed B.1.1.7, was detected in November 2020. According to WHO, more than 100 countries around the world have reported cases of the UK variant of coronavirus.