Estimated transmissibility and impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England
Nicholas G. Davies1,*, View ORCID ProfileSam Abbott1,†, View ORCID ProfileRosanna C. Barnard1,†, View ORCID ProfileChristopher I. Jarvis1,†, Adam J. Kucharski1,†,...
Science 03 Mar 2021:
eabg3055
DOI: 10.1126/science.abg3055
Abstract
A novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, VOC 202012/01 (lineage B.1.1.7), emerged in southeast England in November 2020 and is rapidly spreading toward fixation. Using a variety of statistical and dynamic modelling approaches, we estimate that this variant has a 43–90% (range of 95% credible intervals 38–130%) higher reproduction number than preexisting variants. A fitted two-strain dynamic transmission model shows that VOC 202012/01 will lead to large resurgences of COVID-19 cases. Without stringent control measures, including limited closure of educational institutions and a greatly accelerated vaccine roll-out, COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths across England in 2021 will exceed those in 2020. Concerningly, VOC 202012/01 has spread globally and exhibits a similar transmission increase (59–74%) in Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States.
