A scientist in Cypress claims to have found a new variant of COVID-19, but other scientists dispute the claim, saying it's likely the result of lab contamination.

A new study of COVID-19 variants shows they may not necessarily drive the increased spread of the virus.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency Thursday for Tokyo and three other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)How many variants of the coronavirus are there? One of the three main variants experts are watching was discovered in the United Kingdom late last year and has been detected in dozens of countries since. Data so far suggests current vaccines should still protect against these variants, though there’s some concern their effectiveness may be slightly diminished. The emergence of variants is linked to ongoing surges since infections give viruses the chance to mutate and spread.