Coronavirus VOC-202012/01, first detected in UK, found in 40 other countries and territories as of 5 January. This is stated in the weekly report of the World Health Organization.

These 40 countries are reported to be in five of the six WHO macro-regions.. The British strain was found in a small number of cases..

It is also noted that the coronavirus strain 501Y. V2 (first discovered in South Africa) identified in six other countries and territories.

The WHO writes that according to preliminary studies, the British strain has an increased prevalence, but does not affect the severity of the disease.. UK and South African authorities are conducting further research to assess the properties of the strains.

In general, according to the organization, more than 4 million new cases of COVID-19 are registered in the world for the third week in a row, and the number of new deaths increased by 3% to 76,000.. WHO does not declare the connection between these numbers and the circulation of new strains of coronavirus.

Mark Sirovoy LIGABusinessInform.