The World Health Organization (WHO) says that a new variant of the UK coronavirus has been detected in at least 60 countries.
With the global death toll now exceeding two million, and concerns over the discovery of new variants, countries around the world are struggling to slow the spread of infection until vaccines are widely available.
Meanwhile, South African strains, which are more contagious and virus-like as detected in the UK, have reportedly spread to 23 countries and territories.
In addition, the WHO also informed that the number of new deaths rose to a high of 93,000 in seven days, with 4.7 million new cases confirmed in the same period.
Meanwhile, there are separate reports saying that a new variant of the virus has been detected in Germany, where 35 out of 73 newly infected patients are hospitalized.
Local health officials claim the findings are different from the UK and South African variants.
The hospital's deputy medical director later said they had not been able to confirm whether it was more contagious or cause death, and that it could also be harmless.
Three samples of the virus variant were reportedly sent to the Charité university hospital in Berlin for examination and the results will be released in a few days.
