Learn to live with mutating coronavirus, top Chinese virologist says

Top Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli has renewed calls for the public to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, saying the pathogen will continue to mutate and the world must prepare to coexist with it.

In a report on Wednesday by Health Times, under state-run People’s Daily, Shi called on the public to not hesitate to get vaccinated.

“As the number of infected cases has just become too big, this allowed the novel coronavirus more opportunities to mutate and select. New variants will continue to emerge,” Shi said.

Virus does not have unlimited potential to mutate, researcher says

Professor Jin Dongyan, a molecular virologist with the University of Hong Kong, said he agreed with Shi that the public should be prepared to coexist with the virus “for a long time or forever”.

But Jin suggested that Sars-CoV-2 could eventually be eradicated like smallpox or polio as vaccines were improved. Even with more variants, Jin said it was important to note that the mutation rate of Sars-CoV-2 was lower than that for influenza and HIV-1.

“The virus does not have unlimited potential to mutate,” he said.

While the Covid-19 had become more transmissible, more mutations could follow as it continued to evolve – just like many other viruses.

“When it becomes best adapted, it could stabilise,” he said.

Ji said that as the virus continued to mutate, it was important for the public to expand their understanding of the disease and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

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