Minister Nguyen Thanh Long told VN Express genetic sequencing on several Covid-19 patients in Vietnam have revealed the presence of two common coronavirus variants: one first discovered in the U.K. and the other from India.

"The Ministry of Health would announce the new coronavirus variant on the global genome map," said Long, adding that the new variant has yet to be named.

Long said the coronavirus responsible for the new wave is much more transmissile, especially in the air.