The coronavirus is becoming more genetically diverse, and health officials say the high rate of new cases is the main reason. MUTATIONS ON THE RISEIt's normal for viruses to acquire small changes or mutations in their genetic alphabet as they reproduce. On Tuesday, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles said yet another new variant has been found in one-third of COVID-19 cases in that city and may have fueled its recent surge in cases. Health officials also worry that if the virus changes enough, people might get COVID-19 a second time. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education.

FILE - In this April 6, 2020 file photo, a pharmacist holds a bottle of the drug hydroxychloroquine in Oakland, Calif. The drug did not seem to cause serious harm, though - about 40% on it had side effects, mostly mild stomach problems. The drug did not seem to cause serious harm, though -- about 40% on it had side effects, mostly mild stomach problems. Hydroxychloroquine and a similar drug, chloroquine, have been the subject of much debate since Trump started promoting them in March. But the study takes home run off the table as far as hopes for the drug, he said.

In 2020, the lab is working with 300 ferrets developing a COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine candidate and testing other vaccine candidates and therapeutics. (VIDO-InterVac at the University of Saskatchewan via AP)The global race for a COVID-19 vaccine boils down to some critical questions: How much must the shots rev up someones immune system to really work? Shes awaiting results from mice, ferrets and monkeys that are being exposed to the coronavirus after receiving Inovios vaccine. Three recently reported studies in monkeys tested different COVID-19 vaccine approaches, including shots made by Oxford University and Chinas Sinovac. Ferrets the preferred animal for flu vaccine development may help tell if potential COVID-19 vaccines might stop the viral spread.