“The P4 strain is of unknown origin.

It was first found in a sample from Mococa, a municipality in São Paulo, after which it became widespread in Porto Ferreira, ”TASS quotes a researcher at the University of São Paulo, vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Virology, João Pesoa Araujo Junior.

The virologist is worried about the rapid spread of the new variant of COVID-19.

It is noted that "it is not yet possible to determine whether it is more infectious or dangerous than a common virus."

On May 21, the first cases of infection with the Indian strain of coronavirus were confirmed in Brazil.