The Most Widely Spread New Variant of the Corona Virus

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that four new variants of concern (VOC) of the Covid-19 virus had spread to hundreds of countries by Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Of these four, the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), originating from the United Kingdom, has been detected in 161 countries.

The Beta variant (B.1.351), originating from South Africa, has been detected in 115 countries. The Gamma variant (P.1) from Brazil has spread to 64 countries.

The Delta variant from India has also been detected in 74 countries. Meanwhile, 12 other countries have detected other, yet-to-be-identified coronavirus lineages.

The WHO announced new labels for coronavirus variant names based on the Greek alphabet. This was done to facilitate discussion among non-scientific audiences and to avoid stigmatizing specific countries.

New coronavirus variants in VOCs have a higher transmission rate. As a result, the potential for patients requiring hospital treatment has also increased.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the public is urged to diligently implement the 3M health protocols: wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands with soap. In addition, the public is encouraged to avoid crowds and reduce mobility.