China CDC deposits, shares COVID-19 variant

BEIJING — The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deposited a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa and shared the strain information with research institutes and sci-tech resource sharing platforms in the country.

The COVID-19 variant strain, named "501Y.V2," was isolated by the Guangdong provincial CDC and deposited in the National Pathogen Resource Collection Center, according to the China CDC.

The China CDC has shared the strain information with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among other research institutes and platforms.

The move will provide support to the timely launch of joint scientific research, assessment of existing diagnostic reagents, vaccine research and development, as well as adjustment to epidemic prevention and control measures, the China CDC said.