An infectious disease specialist assessed the risk of another pandemic due to new strains of COVID-19

He noted that "new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus appear at an enviable frequency."

“Almost every week we hear about the emergence of a new strain,” RIA Novosti Voznesensky quotes.

The infectious disease specialist said that "at the moment there is no unequivocal opinion that these strains are fundamentally different from each other."

He explained that "if a person has been ill with one strain of coronavirus infection, then the likelihood that antibodies will protect him from other strains is quite high."

"Therefore, the likelihood that at the moment there is a strain that will cause a pandemic," - added Voznesensky.

In January, World Health Organization (WHO) spokeswoman Margaret Harris noted that none of the new types of coronavirus detected were making the disease worse.

On December 14, 2020, the UK Ministry of Health announced the discovery of a new variety of COVID-19 in the country.

The mutated strain of coronavirus emerged in the UK in September but has been widespread since mid-November.

On December 19, South Africa announced the detection of a new type of COVID-19 in the country, which is spreading faster.