Alarm sounded over virus mutations

Amid global concern over the emergence of mutated strains of the coronavirus, the Health Ministry in Athens has announced the creation of a nationwide network for the systematic monitoring of these variants.

The network includes laboratories at universities and hospitals that perform detection tests of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the National Public Health Organization (EODY), which are tasked with sending samples from around the country for further analysis to the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA).

"We are proceeding with the creation of a network for the strengthening of controls throughout Greece," said Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias on Friday, after convening a meeting at the ministry attended by the head of BRFAA's scientific council Dimitris Thanos, EODY President Panagiotis Arkoumaneas and epidemiology professors Sotiris Tsiodras,...