WHO classifies Covid-19 variant first identified in India as a variant of concern
From CNN’s Virginia Langmaid
The World Health Organization has classified the B.1.617 Covid-19 variant, which was first identified in India, as a variant of concern, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid-19 said during a news briefing on Monday.
A “variant of concern” label indicates that the identified variant may show, among other indicators, evidence of increased transmissibility or evidence of increased severity.
“There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility of B.1.617,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Covid-19 technical lead.
Quantifying the risk posed by the variant will require real-world data in addition to greater genomic surveillance, WHO officials said.
Malaysia imposes nationwide lockdown during 3rd wave of coronavirus
From CNN s Akanksha Sharma and Pauline Lockwood
A road near Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is near-empty on May 7. Wong Fok Loy/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
Malaysia’s prime minister has declared a nationwide lockdown from Wednesday until June 7 in an effort to contain the rise in coronavirus cases, state media Bernama News Agency reported.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the lockdown, known as the Movement Control Order or MCO, saying Malaysia is facing the third wave of the pandemic which can trigger a national crisis.
The prime minister added that Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 cases have exceeded 4,000 as of Monday. There are 37,390 active coronavirus cases and the death toll stands at 1,700 as of May 10, he said.