WHO elevates Indian coronavirus strain to ‘variant of concern’

A top official at the World Health Organization on Monday announced the agency is elevating a coronavirus variant first identified in India from a ‘variant to interest,’ to a ‘variant to concern,’ citing early studies suggesting increased transmissibility. 

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead, said during a press conference that the B.1.617 variant appeared to spread more readily in preliminary studies released ahead of peer review. But there are still many unknowns…