Three Cases of a Mutated Coronavirus Variant Discovered in Moscow

Three cases of a new coronavirus variant, AY.4.2, have been detected in Moscow and the Moscow region, as reported by RIA Novosti.

Anna Popova, head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), announced that there are three new cases of infection with this new variant of the delta strain. She noted that Russia has identified the same mutation of the coronavirus that currently constitutes about 7 percent of cases in Great Britain.

"We have observed this in Moscow and the Moscow region. Three such cases have been recorded, and we are monitoring the situation very carefully," Popova stated during an appearance on Russia's Channel One.

Earlier, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that the new variant of the 'delta' strain could have a higher transmission rate compared to the original delta variant. The new variant is referred to as AY.4.2 or VUI-21OCT-01.