New COVID-19 mutations do not cause more severe form of disease, says expert

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. New coronavirus mutations are transmitted more easily, but they do not cause a more severe form of the disease and do not affect the efficacy of vaccines, Acting Director of the Russian Health Ministry’s Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza Dmitry Lioznov told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. "Viruses are mutating all the time, this is due to their life cycle. As for the coronavirus, it has a protection system, and those changes that are recorded now, they are not so numerous compared to other viruses and influenza viruses. The changes are carefully monitored. <…> As of today, new variants have certain epidemiological characteristics. They are transmitted more easily, but they do not cause a more severe form of the disease and do not lead to a change in the efficacy of vaccines," he said. Read more