The United Nations health agency, in a technical paper issued to member states, said that “significant doubts” remain about the variant that was first discovered days ago in South Africa. But it was possible, she said, that the variant contained mutations that could enable it to escape the immune system’s response and enhance its ability to spread from person to person.
“Depending on these characteristics, there may be future spikes for COVID-19, which could have severe consequences, depending on a number of factors, including where the sudden spikes occur,” she added. “The overall global risk … is assessed as very high.”
The warning came as an ever-widening circle of countries around the world reported shifting cases and moved to close their doors as scientists race to see how dangerous the release could be.
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