Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is ushering in a new era of COVID-19 vaccine guidance in the U.S. as global coronavirus activity is on the rise and a new variant is spreading.

Health officials say the new version seems to be more transmissible and may more easily evade antibodies from vaccines and past infections.

A new variant of COVID-19 is circulating in parts of the world and may be driving an increase in cases in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions.

Symptoms appear to be similar to other variants of COVID-19 and the public health risk remains low, WHO information shows.

In mainland China, the portion of patients going to the ER with COVID has more than doubled in the last month.

COVID-19 cases are rising again as a new variant begins to circulate in some parts of the world. The World Health Organization said Wednesday the rise in cases is primarily in the eastern Mediterranean,

India is witnessing a gradual uptick in coronavirus cases once again. To understand this sudden rise, I’m joined by Dr. Pankaj Soni, Principal Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Escorts, along with defense expert Squadron Leader Subodh Dixit.

Doctors say the new variant appears to be more contagious than other variants but doesn't cause more severe illness.