Africa Business Radio

Scientists in South Africa say they had detected a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations, blaming it for a surge in infection numbers. The number of daily infections in Africa’s hardest-hit country has increased tenfold since the start of the month. Virologist Tulio de Oliveira says the variant, which goes by the scientific lineage number B.1.1.529, has a very high number of mutations while expressing hope that the World Health Organization will give it a Greek name on Friday. He added that the variant has also been detected in Botswana and Hong Kong among travellers from South Africa. The WHO says it is closely monitoring the reported variant and is expected to convene a technical meeting on Friday to determine if it should be designated a variant of interest or of concern.