Covid Variants

China's COVID-19 surge: Will a deadlier variant emerge as the virus spreads?

Experts are wary that the wave of COVID-19 infections in China could prompt the cropping up of new strains. Amid the spurt in cases, the country has set up a network of hospitals to keep track of mutations of the virus

XBB and BQ.1: Are the two omicron ‘cousins’ a cause for concern?

Preliminary evidence suggests XBB is very effective at evading the antibodies generated by COVID vaccines or infection with earlier omicron offshoots. It means that a previous infection with BA.2 or BA.5 might not protect you from XBB

India's 'warm vaccine' candidate effective against Delta, Omicron COVID-19 variants in mice, says study

The latest study, published recently in the journal Viruses, assessed vaccinated mice sera (blood samples) for efficacy against key coronavirus variants, including Delta and Omicron.

Omicron impact less severe than previous COVID-19 variants, finds South African study

NICD Public Health Specialist Waasila Jassat highlighted how the current fourth wave, largely driven by the Omicron virus, was not as severe as the previous waves

‘Hotel Omicron’ in Netherlands: World's biggest confirmed cluster of cases new COVID-19 variant

The Dutch hotel in the town Badhoevedorp is currently housing 61 people with coronavirus, who were among the 624 travellers on two KLM flights from South Africa, where the new strain, Omicron, was first detected

Organisers postpone 2022 Gay Games citing Hong Kong travel curbs

Modelled on the Olympics, the Games are held every four years and feature both LGBTQ and straight athletes to promote a message of inclusivity and equal rights.

New COVID-19 variant 'Mu' shows signs of vaccine resistance; all you need to know

After being detected in Colombia, Mu, known scientifically as B.1.621, has since been reported in other South American countries and in Europe

COVID-19 variants winning race against vaccines, says WHO chief as global deaths cross 4 mn-mark

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that far too many countries were seeing sharp spikes in cases and hospitalisation, due to fast-moving virus variants and a 'shocking inequity' in global access to vaccines

How will COVID-19 vaccines adapt to the new COVID-19 variants emerging?

If a variant with a mutated spike protein crops up that the original vaccine can’t recognize, companies would swap out that piece of genetic code for a better match.