According to World Health Organisation (WHO) coronavirus variant B.1.1.7, which was first identified in the United Kingdom on September 20, has been reported in 86 countries. The Covid-19 test samples of this strain increased from 63 per cent in the week of December 14 to 90 per cent in the week of January 18.
The WHO has also been monitoring two additional coronavirus strains that are actively spreading: B.1.351, initially seen in South Africa, and the P.1 strain that was first identified in Brazil.