WHO calls special meeting to discuss new Covid variant from South Africa with 'large number of mutations'

WHO calls special meeting to discuss new Covid variant from South Africa with 'large number of mutations'

<i>The B.1.1.529 variant contains multiple mutations associated with increased antibody resistance, which may reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, along with mutations that generally make it more contagious, according to slides he presented at the briefing. Other mutations in the new variant haven’t been seen until now, so scientists don’t yet know whether they are significant or will change how the virus behaves, according to the presentation.

The variant has spread rapidly through the Gauteng province, which contains the country’s largest city of Johannesburg. 

“Especially when the spike happens in Gauteng, everybody travels in and out of Gauteng from all corners of South Africa. So it’s a given that in the next few days, the beginning of rising positivity rate and numbers is going to be happening. It’s a matter of days and weeks before we see that,” South Africa Minister of Health Joe Phaahla said during the briefing.</i>

The Google News algorithm served this up. It doesn't seem like anything to worry about, until it becomes something to worry about.

I don't think this virus is ever going away, and that we will see ourselves in videos from the past and feel nostalgia in its fullest sense--the pain from an old wound.