Scientists have been tracking 8 strains of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

There is no more than one novel coronavirus strain spread across the world, and there are no new distinct evolutions of SARS-CoV-2 as of now

There is no more than one novel coronavirus strain spread across the world, and there are no new distinct evolutions of SARS-CoV-2 as of nowAn article published by USA Today on 27 March 2020 claimed that there were 8 strains of the novel coronavirus spread across the world. It had cited Nextstrain as the source of such information. The same article has been referred to by other news websites to report the same.

Nextstrain is a website that provides real-time tracking of pathogen evolution based on data collected from organisations around the world. The data referred by USA Today does not contain any exclusive indication or confirmation of there being multiple strains of the novel coronavirus.

A study published in the Oxford Academic Journals on 14 May 2020 suggests that there is no evidence to support the claim that there are distinct types in the evolution of the coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scientists from different universities from around the world have stated that there is evidence of only one strain of the coronavirus as of now.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.