Surprises of COVID-19 Continue: Discovery of a New Strain

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health announced the discovery of a new strain of the coronavirus, which is a combination of the strains identified in India and Britain. Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long stated that the genetic sequencing from several patients revealed the presence of two common strains of the virus simultaneously. The minister noted today, Saturday, that the hybrid Vietnamese strain of "COVID-19" is more contagious and can be easily transmitted through the air. He added that Vietnam will soon announce the newly discovered strain to the world. Approximately 3,600 people have contracted the coronavirus in 31 out of 63 cities and provinces in Vietnam since late April, accounting for more than half of the total infections in the country.