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The new SARS-CoV-2 variant increases the reproduction or R number by between 0.4 and 0.7 and is growing rapidly . Credit: PA
The new coronavirus strain found in the UK has substantially higher transmissibility than other variants and is mostly affecting those aged under 20, a study has found.
The new SARS-CoV-2 variant increases the reproduction or R number by between 0.4 and 0.7 and is growing rapidly .
If the number is above 1.0 it means each person with the virus will pass it on to more than one other person; the UK s latest R number has been estimated at between 1.1 and 1.3.
Schools remained open even during lockdown measures in England in November. Credit: PA
31 December 2020
The new SARS-CoV-2 variant is growing rapidly, is more transmissible than other variants, and affecting a greater proportion of under 20s.
The new variant has a transmission advantage of 0.4 to 0.7 in reproduction number compared to the previously observed strain.
New variant of concern
This higher transmissibility will make control more difficult and further accentuates the urgency of rolling out vaccination as quickly as possible. Professor Neil Ferguson Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team
All viruses undergo genetic changes which are called mutations, and through selection pressure can result in different variants. The variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) originally termed lineage B.1.1.7, was detected in November 2020 and is rapidly spreading across England. Several genetic changes (substitutions and deletions) have immunological significance and are associated with diagnostic test failures. The absence of S gene target in an otherwise
By Nectar Gan, Adam Renton, Kara Fox and Harry Clarke-Ezzidio, CNN
Updated 8:51 p.m. ET, December 31, 2020
What you need to know
New Year’s Eve celebrations across the globe will be different, downscaled or canceled due to Covid-19 precautions.
The US reported a record Covid-19 death toll for a second straight day. The CDC s ensemble forecast now projects there will be up to 424,000 US deaths by Jan. 23.
The new Covid-19 variant, first identified in the UK, has been found in Southern California and Colorado.
Our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic has ended for the day.
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7:36 a.m. ET, December 31, 2020
Fauci says spreading out first doses of Covid-19 vaccine to more people under consideration
From CNN s Naomi Thomas
Dr. Anthony Fauci is pictured before receiving his first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine on December 22 in Bethesda, Maryland. Patrick Semansky/Pool/Getty Images
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said Thursday, that spreading out the first doses of Covid-19 vaccine to more people is under consideration.
The Pfizer shot requires a second dose 21 days later and the Moderna shot requires a second dose 28 days later. Currently, those second doses have been held back by the federal government, so they will be available and administered when they are needed to provide those second doses.