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, Ja

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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[SUP]1,2,3[/SUP] , Paolo Bosetti[SUP]3,4[/SUP] , Adeline Feri[SUP]3,5[/SUP] , Gregory Destras[SUP]1,2[/SUP] , Vincent Enouf[SUP]6[/SUP] , Alessio Andronico[SUP]4[/SUP] , Sonia Burrel[SUP]7[/SUP] , Sylvie Behillil[SUP]6[/SUP] , Claire Sauvage[SUP]5[/SUP] , Antonin Bal[SUP]1,2[/SUP] , Florence Morfin[SUP]1,2[/SUP] , Sylvie Van Der Werf[SUP]6[/SUP] , Laurence Josset[SUP]1,2[/SUP] , ANRS MIE AC43 COVID-19[SUP]8[/SUP] , French viro COVID group[SUP]8[/SUP] , Fran?ois Blanquart[SUP]9,10[/SUP] , Bruno Coignard[SUP]5,11[/SUP] , Simon Cauchemez[SUP]4,11[/SUP] , Bruno Lina[SUP]1,2,11[/SUP]

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