OREANDA-NEWS. The coronavirus infection was brought to Russia mainly from Europe, not from China. These are the conclusions reached by scientists from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) after studying the genome of the virus.

Experts said that a comparison of the genetic data of viruses circulating in the country showed that SARS-CoV-2 appeared from at least 67 independent sources. The virus was imported to different cities of Russia in February–March 2020, mostly from Europe. Specialists added that at least 9 variants of the coronavirus, which are not found in other states, are currently circulating in the country.

The study was carried out by the Skoltech Center of Life Sciences, the Higher School of Economics, and the Institute for Information Transmission Problems based on genetic analysis of 211 virus samples obtained from Russian patients in March and April.