Read as “Covid-beta.” Also known as the B.1.351 or “Beta” variant. The
South African variant, which has been detected in at least 40-
odd countries, is believed to evade antibodies, thus making recovered infected
people despite their existing immunity prone to reinfection.
Insufficient data cannot conclude whether Covid-β causes more severe illness than earlier versions of the
coronavirus, or whether current vaccines
may be less effective for this variant, which
may also be transmitted faster.