Will New C.1.2 Variant Be More Infectious? Virologist Tackles FAQs

Delta is the kingpin variant at the moment, so we need to keep an eye on C.1.2 to see if it starts to push out Delta.

Scientists in South Africa have discovered a new viral variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It's not a single virus but a clustering of genetically similar viruses, known as C.1.2. The researchers, in a pre-print study released last week but yet to be peer reviewed, found this cluster has picked up a lot of mutations in a short period of time. Indeed, this is what viruses do. They continually evolve and mutate due to selective pressures but also because of opportunity, luck and chance.