A multiplex method for specific detection of the presence or absence of a SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a sample, comprising: subjecting a sample to two simultaneous amplification reactions: a first reverse transcription reaction with a first SARS-CoV-2-specific reverse primer to generate a first cDNA copy of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample; amplifying any resultant first cDNA with the first reverse primer and a first SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer; and detecting any first amplified product with a first SARS-CoV-2 specific probe; wherein the first SARS-CoV-2 specific reverse primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-ACAACACAACAAAGGGAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 11) and the RNA equivalent thereof; the first SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CAACAGGACTAAGCTCAT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 10) and the first SARS-CoV-2 specific probe hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-TACCGGCAGCACAAGACATCT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 12) or the complement thereof; and a second reverse transcription reaction with a second SARS-CoV-2-specific reverse primer to generate a second cDNA copy of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample; amplifying any resultant second cDNA with the second reverse primer and a second SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer; and detecting any second amplified product with a second SARS-CoV-2 specific probe; wherein the second SARS-CoV-2 specific reverse primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CCTATATTAACCTTGACCAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 14) and the RNA equivalent thereof, the second SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CGAAATCATACCAGTTACC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 13), and the second SARS-CoV-2 specific probe hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CCTGGCGTGGTTTGTATGA-3' (SEQ ID NO: 15) or the complement thereof; and wherein said SARS-CoV-2 is chosen from SARS-CoV-2 variants of isolate Wuhan-Hu-1 carrying mutations in the Spike protein predicted to increase viral particles binding affinity towards the human ACE2 receptor and/or reduce viral particles sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. subjecting a sample to two simultaneous amplification reactions: a first reverse transcription reaction with a first SARS-CoV-2-specific reverse primer to generate a first cDNA copy of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample; amplifying any resultant first cDNA with the first reverse primer and a first SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer; and detecting any first amplified product with a first SARS-CoV-2 specific probe; wherein the first SARS-CoV-2 specific reverse primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-ACAACACAACAAAGGGAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 11) and the RNA equivalent thereof; the first SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CAACAGGACTAAGCTCAT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 10) and the first SARS-CoV-2 specific probe hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-TACCGGCAGCACAAGACATCT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 12) or the complement thereof; and a second reverse transcription reaction with a second SARS-CoV-2-specific reverse primer to generate a second cDNA copy of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample; amplifying any resultant second cDNA with the second reverse primer and a second SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer; and detecting any second amplified product with a second SARS-CoV-2 specific probe; wherein the second SARS-CoV-2 specific reverse primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CCTATATTAACCTTGACCAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 14) and the RNA equivalent thereof, the second SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CGAAATCATACCAGTTACC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 13), and the second SARS-CoV-2 specific probe hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CCTGGCGTGGTTTGTATGA-3' (SEQ ID NO: 15) or the complement thereof; and a first reverse transcription reaction with a first SARS-CoV-2-specific reverse primer to generate a first cDNA copy of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample; amplifying any resultant first cDNA with the first reverse primer and a first SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer; and detecting any first amplified product with a first SARS-CoV-2 specific probe; wherein the first SARS-CoV-2 specific reverse primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-ACAACACAACAAAGGGAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 11) and the RNA equivalent thereof; the first SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CAACAGGACTAAGCTCAT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 10) and the first SARS-CoV-2 specific probe hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-TACCGGCAGCACAAGACATCT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 12) or the complement thereof; and a second reverse transcription reaction with a second SARS-CoV-2-specific reverse primer to generate a second cDNA copy of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample; amplifying any resultant second cDNA with the second reverse primer and a second SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer; and detecting any second amplified product with a second SARS-CoV-2 specific probe; wherein the second SARS-CoV-2 specific reverse primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CCTATATTAACCTTGACCAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 14) and the RNA equivalent thereof, the second SARS-CoV-2 specific forward primer hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CGAAATCATACCAGTTACC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 13), and the second SARS-CoV-2 specific probe hybridizes to the sequence: 5'-CCTGGCGTGGTTTGTATGA-3' (SEQ ID NO: 15) or the complement thereof; and wherein said SARS-CoV-2 is chosen from SARS-CoV-2 variants of isolate Wuhan-Hu-1 carrying mutations in the Spike protein predicted to increase viral particles binding affinity towards the human ACE2 receptor and/or reduce viral particles sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies.