Eurosurv. Early assessment of diffusion and possible expansion of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage 20I/501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7, variant of concern 202012/01) in France, January to March 2021

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Early assessment of diffusion and possible expansion of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage 20I/501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7, variant of concern 202012/01) in France, January to March 2021

• Alexandre Gaymard^1,2,3 , Paolo Bosetti^3,4 , Adeline Feri^3,5 , Gregory Destras^1,2 , Vincent Enouf⁶ , Alessio Andronico⁴ , Sonia Burrel⁷ , Sylvie Behillil⁶ , Claire Sauvage⁵ , Antonin Bal^1,2 , Florence Morfin^1,2 , Sylvie Van Der Werf⁶ , Laurence Josset^1,2 , ANRS MIE AC43 COVID-19⁸ , French viro COVID group⁸ , Fran?ois Blanquart^9,10 , Bruno Coignard^5,11 , Simon Cauchemez^4,11 , Bruno Lina^1,2,11

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variant 20I/501Y.V1 (VOC-202012/1 or GR/501Y.V1) is concerning given its increased transmissibility. We reanalysed 11,916 PCR-positive tests (41% of all positive tests) performed on 7–8 January 2021 in France. The prevalence of 20I/501Y.V1 was 3.3% among positive tests nationwide and 6.9% in the Paris region. Analysing the recent rise in the prevalence of 20I/501Y.V1, we estimate that, in the French context, 20I/501Y.V1 is 52–69% more transmissible than the previously circulating lineages, depending on modelling assumptions.

full article

https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.9.2100133#html_fulltext