Mutated coronavirus strain drives infections in South Africa

Over the weekend, travel bans were also imposed on South Africa, as it was believed that the UK strain was also found there. But South African health officials and scientists leading the country’s virus strategy, the new variant, known as 501.V2, was different from the one in the UK. Nonetheless, like in Britain, officials have said that the mutation was driving the country’s resurgence of the disease, with higher numbers of confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths. South African scientists on the ground said they are currently studying if the vaccines against COVID-19 will also offer protection against the country’s new strain.