Scientists in South Africa have detected a new coronavirus variant with multiple mutations, but they have yet to establish whether it is more contagious or if it can overcome immunity provided by vaccines or prior infection, RFI reports.

The new variant, known as C.1.2, was first detected in May and caught scientists' attention because it mutates almost twice as fast other variants.

Researchers, in a preprint study that has yet to be peer reviewed, say it evolved from one of the lineages that dominated the first Covid wave in South Africa, last detected in January 2021.

C.1.2 has mutations associated in other variants with increased transmissibility, as well as a reduced sensitivity to Covid antibodies.

But it is not yet clear on how the mutations affect the behaviour of the virus, and laboratory tests are underway.

Richard Lessells, one of the study's authors, said C.1.2 may have more immune evasion properties than Delta, the predominant variant in the world currently, and that the findings had been flagged to the World Health Organisation.