By: J.S., STA
The highly virulent UK variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly and currently accounts for more than 40% of all cases.
The National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food (NLZOH) said the share of the variant among sequenced samples rose to almost 42% from 33% last week. The Institute of Microbiology and Immunology said 44% of the samples it analysed between 15 and 21 March were the UK variant. The NLZOH has detected another specific mutation in the most prevalent coronavirus variant in the country (B1.258.17), but it remains unclear how the mutation affects the virus.