What Do the New Coronavirus Variants Mean for the Pandemic? Q: What are the risks of the newly identified coronavirus variants? A: It’s not yet known whether mutant versions cause more severe disease, but some are likely more contagious. Scientists expect vaccines will work but are monitoring the situation. FULL QUESTION Subject: COVID-19 Mutation in Colorado I know that viruses continuously mutate, but is this new mutation that was just found stateside actually more dangerous than any other mutations of the COVID-19 virus? FULL ANSWER On Dec. 29, Colorado officials reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. due to a variant of the coronavirus that emerged in the U.K. in September.