“We’ve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant — the variant that was first discovered in London and the southeast [of England] — may be associated with a higher degree of mortality,” Mr. Johnson said during a news conference.
The preliminary evidence is being assessed by the U.K.’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group.
Experts believe the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, the two currently used in the U.K., are effective against both old and new variants.
The U.K. variant, known as B.1.1.7., has since been detected in at least 44 countries and 20 U.S. states. Last week, the CDC predicted the variant will become the dominant strain in the U.S. by March.
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Biden’s pandemic plan: 10 things to know
Weekly hospitalizations dip after 16-week increase; vaccines appear less effective against South Africa strain — 6 COVID-19 updates
Flu hospitalizations at lowest rate in almost a decade — 7 CDC FluView takeaways
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