Key Takeaways

Also known as B.1.1.7, the “highly transmissible” strain of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) has already been detected in 10 states in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Modeling data from the CDC indicates that B.1.1.7 “has the potential to increase the U.S. pandemic trajectory in the coming months,” the report says.

Where Has the New COVID-19 Variant Spread in the U.S.?

The report also says that B.1.1.7 could rapidly grow in early 2021 and “higher vaccination coverage might need to be achieved to protect the public.” The CDC stresses the importance of universal and increased compliance with safety measures like masking and social distancing to curb the spread of this new strain. The agency notes that it is planning to increase its surveillance program to help identify “variants of concern” in the U.S.

“Taking measures to reduce transmission now can lessen the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and allow critical time to increase vaccination coverage,” the report says.

What This Means For You

B.1.1.7 Mutation

B.1.1.7 has several mutations, some of which are in the virus’s spike protein, the CDC explains, which the virus uses to bind to receptors in your cells to make you sick.

The B.1.1.7 variant has a mutation in the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. That particular mutation causes an amino acid called asparagine, which is typically found in the original SARS-CoV-2, to be replaced with a different amino acid called tyrosine. As a result, the spike protein is stronger and, it seems, is better able to infect people with the virus.

How To Protect Yourself From New COVID-19 Variants

“Multiple lines of evidence indicate that B.1.1.7 is more efficiently transmitted compared with other SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the United Kingdom,” the CDC points out in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, noting that regions in the U.K. with a higher proportion of B.1.1.7 variants had faster growth of the virus than other areas.

The Future of B.1.1.7

FDA: New COVID-19 Variants May Cause False Negatives on Diagnostic Tests

B.1.1.7 is “likely the dominant strain throughout the U.K. at this point,”Richard Watkins, MD, an infectious disease physician and professor of internal medicine at the Northeastern Ohio Medical University, tells Verywell.

And, as the CDC pointed out, it’s likely to eventually become the dominant strain in the U.S. as well. While B.1.1.7 hasn’t been found to cause more severe infections in people, experts say the high infectiousness of the virus is still concerning for public safety. “More infections will invariably lead to more deaths,” Watkins says.

What Does the U.K.’s New COVID-19 Strain Mean for Transmission?

How To Stay Safe

The good news: Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, which are authorized for use in the U.S., appear to be effective against B.1.1.7.The standard ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19 are also effective against B.1.1.7.

Pfizer Says Vaccine Can Handle New COVID-19 Variants

“At this point, the most important thing for the general public to do is to follow the usual core public health precautions, including universal masking and physical distancing outside the home, avoiding large crowds, frequent hand washing, and getting vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Kulkarni says.

WHO: COVID-19 Herd Immunity Unlikely This Year

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Galloway SE, Paul P, MacCannell DR, et al.Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage — United States, December 29, 2020–January 12, 2021.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2021:70. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7003e2

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Moderna.Statement on variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

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