UK's Coronavirus Variant Found 'Not Statistically Different'

The UK's Public Health England published Technical Briefing #2 on December 28, 2020, regarding the investigation of novel SARS-CoV-2 variant Variant of Concern 202012/01. A matched cohort study was undertaken to inform a preliminary assessment of hospitalization outcomes and case fatality associated with VOC 202012/01.

Of the 2,693 variant cases identified at the time of analysis, 1,769 variant cases with specimen dates between September 20, and December 15, 2020, were matched to 1,769 wild-type comparator cases and were included in this analysis. In reflection of the matching criteria, the median age of variant cases was 36 years and 35 for the wild-type cases.

The cohort study's preliminary results found 'no statistically significant difference in hospitalization and 28-day case fatality between cases with the variant (VOC 201212/01) and wild-type comparator cases. There was also no significant difference in the likelihood of reinfection between variant cases and the comparator group.'

PHE concluded: 'We currently have no evidence that the variant is more likely to cause severe disease or mortality, but we are continuing investigations to understand this better.'