new U.K. variant of the coronavirus have been detected across Canada.Based on the evidence so far, researchers believe the B.1.1.7 lineage that was first discovered in the United Kingdom is up to 70 per cent more contagious than other variants.
It is not yet clear, however, if it causes more severe illness or is more lethal. What the COVID-19 variants could mean for masks, lockdowns and vaccines It is natural for all viruses to mutate, as their genetic material undergoes small changes during outbreaks.In fact, more than 10,000 mutations of the novel coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, have been reported, Levon Abrahamyan, a virologist at the University of Montreal, told Global News.But what makes the U.K.