On Jun. 12, 2020, a tiny genetic mutation in the SARS coronavirus 2 variant circulating throughout Europe and the U.S. significantly increases the virusﾒ ability to infect cells, lab experiments performed at Scripps Research show. The mutation had the effect of markedly increasing the number of functional spikes on the viral surface.

It is unknown whether this small mutation affects the severity of symptoms of infected people, or increases mortality.