U.S. CDC Confirms SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7. Variant

A new variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 that contains a series of mutations has been described in the United Kingdom (UK) and has become highly prevalent in London and southeast England, stated the U.S. CDC on December 22, 2020.

At present, the variant is referred to as “SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01” or “B.1.1.7.”

Based on these mutations, this variant strain has been predicted to potentially be more rapidly transmissible than other circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2. Although a variant may predominate in a geographic area, that fact alone does not mean that the variant is more infectious.