New variants of the coronavirus have now been reported in at least 31 countries worldwide. One of these new series called VUI-202012/01 was first reported in the UK on 14 December and is said to be up to 70 per cent more mobile than its previous weight. this in the UK.
This means that it is spreading faster in the UK, making the pandemic there even more difficult to control and increasing the risk of it spreading rapidly in other countries.
To date, there is no evidence to believe that the new mutation is more lethal, or more likely to be able to avoid vaccines or medications.
The map and list below show which countries have so far recorded cases of the new strains of coronavirus.
Al Jazeera will update this list as more information becomes available (Updated Dec 31).
United Kingdom: December 14th
South Africa: December 18th
Australia: December 21st
Netherlands: December 22nd
Denmark: 23 December
Ireland: 23 December
Israel: 23 December
Italy: 23 December
Germany: December 24th
Iceland: December 24th
Nigeria: December 24th
Singapore: December 24th
France: December 25th
Japan: December 25th
Lebanon: December 25th
Canada: December 26th
Spain: December 26th
Sweden: December 26th
Jordan: December 27th
Portugal: December 27th
Finland: December 28th
Norway: December 28th
South Korea: December 28th
Chile: 29 December
India: 29 December
Pakistan: 29 December
Switzerland: 29 December
United Arab Emirates: Dec. 30
United States: Dec. 30
Malaysia: December 31st
China: 31 December