The Scan

23andMe and Medscape say primary care physicians are increasingly more comfortable with discussing direct-to-consumer genetic testing results.

Johnson & Johnson reports interim results from a Phase 1/2 study of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the New England Journal of Medicine, according to Bloomberg.

Investigators from the World Health Organization have arrived in China to look into the origins of SARS-CoV-2, NPR reports.

Additional, more contagious variants of SARS-CoV-2 are likely to crop up, the Financial Times says.

Western lowland gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, according to NBC7 San Diego.

The Guardian reports Public Health England is increasing its surveillance of a SARS-CoV-2 strain identified in South Africa.

The Washington Post reports there is no evidence that the rise in COVID-19 cases in the US is due to a particular strain, but notes scientists' ability to detect variants is limited. 

BBC News says the UK is rolling out rapid COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic people despite concerns over its accuracy.

Bluebird Bio is splitting into two companies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

A lack of a national SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing strategy is hindering the ability of the US to track and uncover emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains, according to the New York Times.

The researcher accused of attempting to smuggle research materials out of the US has been sentenced to time served, according to the Associated Press.