This SARS-CoV-2 Variant Should Be Deleted

A retrospective study from Singapore published by The Lancet on August 18, 2020, found the SARS-CoV-2 variants with a 382-nucleotide deletion (∆382) in the open reading frame 8 (ORF8) region, found infection with the ∆382 variant only was associated with lower odds of developing hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

This means the ∆382 variant of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be associated with a milder infection. And, the observed clinical effects of deletions in ORF8 could have implications for the development of COVID-19 treatments and preventive vaccines.