63 Cases of Coronavirus Variant Confirmed in the USA

The U.S. CDC's COVIDView Weekly Surveillance report issued on January 8, 2021, found throughout the USA, the overall percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the betacoronavirus that is causing COVID-19, increased from 12.9% during week #52 to 15.0% during week #53. And the percent positivity increased among all ages.

In early December 2020, the overall weekly hospitalization rate peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained elevated. Although reported rates in recent weeks have declined, these rates are likely to increase as additional data are reported, says the CDC.

Multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been documented in the USA and globally during this pandemic. As of January 8, 2021, there have been (63) B.1.1.7 Lineage cases confirmed by the CDC. California (32) and Florida (22) have confirmed the most B.1.1.7 Lineage cases.

The cases identified above are based on a sampling of SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens. They do not represent the total number of B.1.1.7 lineage cases circulating in the USA. They may not match numbers reported by states, territories, tribes, and local officials reported by the CDC.