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.

The mainland Monday reported 118 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 106 locally transmitted cases and 12 arriving from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said yesterday.

Of the locally transmitted cases, 43 were reported in Jilin, 35 in Hebei, 27 in Heilongjiang, and one in Beijing, the commission said in its daily report.

Authorities have classified two more areas as high-risk for COVID-19 in Hebei Province.

Starting on Monday, the cities of Xinle under Shijiazhuang and Nangong under Xingtai will be upgraded to high-risk areas, announced the provincial health commission.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government yesterday announced the extension of social distancing measures for another week to Jan. 27 as 56 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported.

(Xinhua)