Positive coronavirus samples are ready to be prepared in an ice bucket to get sequenced and analysed for the mutant versions of the coronavirus, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia laboratories in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021, REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with restructured positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant versions, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Positive coronavirus samples sit in an ice bucket ready to be sequenced and analysed for the mutant versions of the coronavirus, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia laboratories in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant versions of the coronavirus, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021, REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories points at a sequenced and analysed mutant version of the coronavirus, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories points at a sequenced and analysed mutant version of the coronavirus, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories points at a sequenced and analysed mutant version of the coronavirus, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories points at a sequenced and analysed mutant version of the coronavirus, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant strains, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant strains, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant strains, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant strains, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant strains, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A scientist at Bioscientia laboratories prepares a tray with positive coronavirus samples to get them sequenced and analysed for the mutant strains, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, at the Bioscientia headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, January 27, 2021, REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

PhD candidate in Analytical Chemistry, Ekaterini Galani, 26, analyses sewage samples at the chemistry lab of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Athens, Greece November 28, 2020. Picture taken November 28, 2020. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

MSc student in Analytical Chemistry, Ekaterini Kontou, 25, analyses sewage samples at the chemistry lab of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Athens, Greece November 26, 2020. Picture taken November 26, 2020. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

A chemist prepares to analyse a sewage sample at the chemistry lab of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Athens, Greece November 26, 2020. Picture taken November 26, 2020. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

Passengers tag their luggage before checking at the counter of British Airways, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

Passengers are seen at the counter of British Airways to check in for their flights to London, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A flight information screen displays the arrivals and delayed flights, including the one from London, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A sign is pictured as passengers check-in their flights to London at the counter of British Airways, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A police officer assists a passenger arriving from London, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

Passengers are pictured after arriving from London, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A flight information screen displays the arrivals and delayed flights, including the one from London, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A passenger is assisted by an airline employee whilst arriving to the counter of British Airways, as the Mexico's government analyses to suspend flights from the U.K. due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) strain, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A sign is pictured at a counter of British Airways, as Mexico's government analyses whether to suspend flights from the UK due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A view shows the counters of British Airways, as Mexico's government analyses whether to suspend flights from the UK due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A sign is pictured at the counters of British Airways, as Mexico's government analyses whether to suspend flights from the UK due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A passenger speaks on the phone after asking for information at the counter of British Airways, as Mexico's government analyses whether to suspend flights from the UK due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

A passenger checks his documentation near to a counter of British Airways, as Mexico's government analyses whether to suspend flights from the UK due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, at the Benito Juarez International Airport, in Mexico City, Mexico December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

Reuters analysed over 185,000 genome samples from GISAID, the largest database of novel coronavirus genome sequences in the world, to show how the regional dominance of major strains has shifted over time.

A doctor separates the samples while analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inside Benghazi Medical Center in Benghazi, Libya November 29, 2020. Picture taken November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

A doctor carries samples before analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a medical center in Misrata, Libya, November 29, 2020. Picture taken November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Ayman Al-Sahili

Doctors sort samples before analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a medical center in Misrata, Libya, November 29, 2020. Picture taken November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Ayman Al-Sahili

A medical staff works inside a lab for analysing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests, at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. Picture taken October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah

A medical staff works inside a lab for analysing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests, at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. Picture taken October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah

Medical workers analyse a test vial at a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Medical workers analyse a test vial at a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

A medical worker analyses swabs in a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Medical workers analyse a test vial at a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

A medical worker analyses swabs in a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

A medical worker analyses swabs in a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

A medical worker analyses swabs in a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

A medical worker analyses swabs in a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

A medical worker analyses swabs in a laboratory of the San Filippo Neri hospital, to check for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Doctors extract DNA from the samples while analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inside Benghazi Medical Center in Benghazi, Libya April 22, 2020 REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

A doctor prepares operating materials for samples before analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inside Benghazi Medical Center in Benghazi, Libya April 22, 2020 REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

Doctors sort samples before analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inside Benghazi Medical Center in Benghazi, Libya April 22, 2020 REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

A doctor sorts samples before analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inside Benghazi Medical Center in Benghazi, Libya April 22, 2020 REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

A doctor sorts samples before analysing them to ensure they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inside Benghazi Medical Center in Benghazi, Libya April 22, 2020 REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

An employee uses a precious metals analyser on gold bars at AGR (African Gold Refinery) in Entebbe, Uganda, October 4, 2018. Picture taken October 4, 2018. To match Insight AFRICA-GOLD/REFINERIES REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda (2nd L) and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh (2nd R) sign an agreement to provide fund for Dioxin analysing equipment as Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (3rd L) and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (3rd R) look on, at the Government Guesthouse in Hanoi, Vietnam January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Kham/Pool

Mariela, an infectious disease specialist intern, analyses an X-ray of 24-year-old patient Jorge, who is currently undergoing treatment for tuberculosis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 29, 2019. Cases of the "white death" illness, closely linked to poverty, malnutrition and poor housing, have been on the rise since the turn of the decade as Latin America's third largest economy has grappled with repeat recessions and inflation. REUTERS/Magali Druscovich SEARCH "ARGENTINA TB" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

An ice core from Gepatschferner glacier sticks out the core barrel on Weissseespitze summit at 3,500 meters above sea level near Feichten im Kaunertal, Austria, March 21, 2019. Scientists from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research are seeking Austria's oldest ice at the top of the Weissseespitze summit. They have drilled to the bottom of the comparatively undisturbed glacier to extract samples of its ice, which is being analysed for information on the local climate thousands of years ago. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Environmental physicist Pascal Bohleber from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, digs out a cooling box from the snow on Gepatschferner glacier at Weissseespitze summit at 3,500 meters above sea level near Feichten im Kaunertal, Austria, March 21, 2019. Scientists from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research are seeking Austria's oldest ice at the top of the Weissseespitze summit. They have drilled to the bottom of the comparatively undisturbed glacier to extract samples of its ice, which is being analysed for information on the local climate thousands of years ago. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Cooling boxes with ice cores wait for transport on Gepatschferner glacier at Weissseespitze summit at 3,500 meters above sea level near Feichten im Kaunertal, Austria, March 21, 2019. Scientists from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research are seeking Austria's oldest ice at the top of the Weissseespitze summit. They have drilled to the bottom of the comparatively undisturbed glacier to extract samples of its ice, which is being analysed for information on the local climate thousands of years ago. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Scientists work next to the drilling tent on Gepatschferner glacier at Weissseespitze summit at 3,500 meters above sea level near Feichten im Kaunertal, Austria, March 21, 2019. Scientists from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research are seeking Austria's oldest ice at the top of the Weissseespitze summit. They have drilled to the bottom of the comparatively undisturbed glacier to extract samples of its ice, which is being analysed for information on the local climate thousands of years ago. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

The Core barrel and chips barrel of an ice drill lie next to the drill hole on Gepatschferner glacier at Weissseespitze summit at 3,500 meters above sea level near Feichten im Kaunertal, Austria, March 21, 2019. Scientists from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research are seeking Austria's oldest ice at the top of the Weissseespitze summit. They have drilled to the bottom of the comparatively undisturbed glacier to extract samples of its ice, which is being analysed for information on the local climate thousands of years ago. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Glaciologists Martin Stocker-Waldhuber and Bernd Seiser from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, make notes as they set a survey point on Gepatschferner glacier at Weissseespitze summit at 3,500 meters above sea level near Feichten im Kaunertal, Austria, March 21, 2019. Scientists from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research are seeking Austria's oldest ice at the top of the Weissseespitze summit. They have drilled to the bottom of the comparatively undisturbed glacier to extract samples of its ice, which is being analysed for information on the local climate thousands of years ago. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Glaciologists Martin Stocker-Waldhuber and Bernd Seiser, from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, make their way with skis to set survey points on Gepatschferner glacier at Weissseespitze summit at 3,500 meters above sea level near Feichten im Kaunertal, Austria, March 21, 2019. Scientists from the Austrian Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research are seeking Austria's oldest ice at the top of the Weissseespitze summit. They have drilled to the bottom of the comparatively undisturbed glacier to extract samples of its ice, which is being analysed for information on the local climate thousands of years ago. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner