Scientists have discovered a new strain of coronavirus in a patient with 613-day covirus

According to Time magazine, Dutch researchers found that a new strain of coronavirus had been incubating in the body of a 72-year-old patient with a weakened immune system for 613 days of illness. According to the scientists, the patient's immune system failed to develop a sufficient immune response after multiple covid vaccinations before he contracted omicron in February 2022. Detailed analyses of samples taken from more than two dozen nose and throat swabs showed that the coronavirus had developed resistance to sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody drug for the treatment of covida. The patient recently passed away.

The virus also acquired more than 50 mutations, some of which could potentially affect its ability to bypass immune defences. According to the researchers, this 20-month SARS-CoV-2 infection could be considered the longest known. They express concern that immunocompromised people may be "incubators" of highly infectious and pathogenic strains of the coronavirus.