Epidemiologist breaks down concerns about COVID-19 variants Published: Updated: Tags: A new report from the UK states there is “a realistic possibility” that the new COVID-19 variant has a higher death rate than others. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that, while the data is not conclusive, “there is some evidence that the new variant may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.” CDC modeling suggests this new variant, which has been shown to spread especially quickly, could become the predominant variant in the United States by March. Some of the latest numbers showed 195 cases in the US, with more than 50 of those in Florida, and news out of Minnesota shows a new variant case there from Brazil.