Govt to investigate new COVID variant originating in Botswana

In an a brief interview with this publication, the ministry spokesperson Christopher Nyanga revealed that even though they are aware of this, investigations are currently ongoing to determine the specific type of mutation and the extent of spread or transmission locally.

The variant, which is believed to be the most mutated version of the virus yet, is said to be carrying an extremely high number of mutations which may drive further waves of the disease by evading the body’s defences. While Nyanga has assured that the ministry will communicate when relevant information has been collected, The Guardian newspaper in the UK has reported that the B.1.1.529 variant has 32 mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that most vaccines use to prime the immune system against COVID-19.