New 'Columbus strain' of coronavirus evolved in the US

[admin]

This strain quickly became the dominant coronavirus variant in Columbus, Ohio.

New 'Columbus strain' of coronavirus evolved in the US : Read more

 

[Snorrie]

Isn't the mutation rate of the Sars-Cov-2 virus much quicker and more extensive than that of similar/other viruses? Is there an evolutionary reason, e.g.: the global pandemic? Or does the mutation rate raise the possibility that the Sar-Cov-2 virus is a laboratory engineered/modified virus and difficult to control due to it's mutation ability? As I recall there seems to be 30 to 40 strains of this virus each with different host targets and resultant morbidity effects. It's both confusing and worrisome when considering the efficaciousness of the current vaccines. When might this "thing" be gone or is the world facing annual covid-19 vaccines just like the flu?