Can COVID-19 mutate? Are there different strains of the virus?
The rate of mutation in coronaviruses — about two mutations per month — is much slower than it is with the influenza virus, which averages about eight to 10 mutations per month. It means there are slight differences in the genetic code in various locations. This is how scientists can track the origin of a particular infection.
Scientists have, for instance, tracked the infections on the Grand Princess cruise ship and determined the virus originally came from Washington State. Other strains have been found in different California counties, and scientists are trying to track their origin and document the path of spread.
Can the virus mutate into a more deadly and virulent disease?
Additional study is needed to determine if more-deadly mutations are possible, but geneticists do not believe this coronavirus is likely to get more transmissible or deadly. Chiu said most mutations are silent, making slight changes in DNA sequences without altering the characteristics the virus. He said flu viruses mutate at a much faster rate, which is why they return every year, but it is very rare for a particular flu to be much worse than its predecessors.