COVID-19 variants to be named after constellations once Greek alphabet is used up.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 technical lead, confirmed the agency is considering naming new COVID-19 strains after star constellations when the 24 letters in the Greek alphabet are used up.  She  also warned a dangerous new mutation is more likely to emerge in places with intense transmission rates.

Maria Van Kerkhove, said it is very much possible that new variants might be stronger than the existing vaccines. She requested countries to "do everything we can" rather than simply relying on Covid vaccines.

World Health Organisation started naming new mutations after letters of the Greek alphabet back in May. So far, 11 variants have been named - including the Delta, Beta and Alpha strains.

At the moment, constellations are being considered.

This means coronavirus variants could be named after constellations such as Orion, Leo, Gemini and Aries.

"We will possibly run out of the Greek alphabet, but we're already looking at the next series of names”  Dr Van Kerkhove said.

The WHO is looking at proposals to make sure no one is upset with the names, she added.

She previously warned naming variants after where they are first identified can end up "stigmatising" a country or place.

Last year, she made a request for a naming system to avoid this happening.

The WHO official also warned a dangerous new mutation is more likely to emerge in places with intense transmission rates, in animal populations or in areas with high vaccination rates where COVID is still widely circulating.

It comes after early analysis suggested coronavirus levels in people with Delta strain may be similar regardless of  whether or not they had the jab.