The B117 and 501YV2 strains may be as much as 50% more transmissible than the regular virus. This would mean stricter measures need to be taken to lower spread
New research suggests that new coronavirus variants may spread more easily than the regular, or wild type coronavirus.
Fifty-five countries have now reported the presence of the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7, originally identified in the UK, and 23 countries have identified the 501Y.V2 variant, originally identified in South Africa.
