Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[SvennoJ]

vivster said:

Rab said:

Researchers find new coronavirus strain 'more contagious', potentially impacting COVID-19 vaccine search

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-06/new-coronavirus-covid19-strain-mutation-hits-vaccine-research/12218834

A group of leading international researchers have concluded the coronavirus behind the global pandemic has already mutated into a second strain, which appears to have spread faster and wider than the original one, potentially undermining efforts to create a vaccine.

"It does become generally more transmissible over time and less severe over time."

Sounds like good news to me.

Reading that they suspect that second strain started in Italy and took over in Europe. The original strain was squashed by the Chinese in Wuhan and for some reason is only still doing 'well' in Iceland.

More contagious seems correct in that it has been more difficult to stop compared to Wuhan. Less severe, Italy begs to differ. But maybe there are a lot more mild cases in this G-strain. The question is whether immunity for the G-strain also makes you immune to the original strain. (or vice versa, will a vaccine based on the original strain protect against this new, now more dominant G-strain)