South African coronavirus mutation suspected in three samples taken in Czechia

The National Reference Laboratory is currently conducting tests on samples taken from three people who are suspected of being infected with the “South African” mutation of the coronavirus (B.1.351), Health Minister Jan Blatný said on Tuesday. All of the individuals recently returned from a trip to Zanzibar.

The specific mutation is seen as dangerous, because it enables the virus to dodge a person's immune system and may affect how well vaccines work.