WHO says virus strain in India a 'variant of concern' as Europe eases curbs

World Health Organization

Schools and stores reopened in parts of Europe on Monday, easing out of months of Covid-19 lockdowns, but the devastating outbreak raged on across the sub-continent and health experts declared the virus mutation in India a ‘variant of concern’. The World Health Organization in Geneva said the B.1.617 variant spreading in India appears to be more contagious and might possibly have some increased resistance to vaccine protections. ‘As such, we are classifying this as a variant of concern at the global level,’ said WHO's Covid-19 lead Maria Van Kerkove. The virus is still surging in many countries and the pandemic has killed close to 3.3 million people worldwide since late 2019, upending normal life and causing global economic chaos.