One COVID-19 strain is weakening

The number of new COVID-19 infections in Japan dropped to 229 on Sunday－which is less than 1 percent of the 25,900 active cases on Aug 20.

According to research carried out by some Japanese scientists, a genome of the Delta variant, an enzyme called nsp14, has mutated resulting in reduced activity or inability to reproduce or mutate further－which can be called a self-detonation or self-destruction phenomenon.

That has prompted some researchers to speculate that SARS-CoV-2 might be "weakening". SARS-CoV-2 is among those viruses that can mutate easily, sometimes within a week.

The Delta variant of the virus, which is highly infectious, has already mutated further into 40 more variants, some of which are highly infectious and more harmful.

As with most other viruses, the more the novel coronavirus mutates, the weaker the new variants are likely to become, and the nsp14 enzyme seems to be hastening this phenomenon.

The nsp 14 enzyme was found in the majority of cases during the fifth wave of infections in Japan, supporting the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 might be weakening due to its own RNA variations.

However, before we start celebrating, it is important to remember that only the variants with nsp14 enzyme might be weakening. Which means other variants could mutate further and become more infectious and harmful.

Therefore, it is important for media outlets to report all sides of the story so that people are not misled. The Japanese research should not lead to undue speculation that the "novel coronavirus is dying".

- Beijing News