What we know about the B1617 variant from India as COVID-19 sweeps South Asia – CNA

NEW DELHI: India has recorded the world’s sharpest spike in coronavirus infections this month , with political and financial capitals New Delhi and Mumbai running out of hospital beds, oxygen and medicines. Scientists are studying what led to the unexpected surge, and particularly whether a variant of the novel coronavirus first detected in India is to blame. READ: Virus variant from India ‘concerning’ as infections could spread ‘quickly and widely’, says Gan Kim Yong READ: COVID-19 virus variants from India detected in Singapore: What you need to know The variant, named B1617, has been reported in 17 countries, raising global…