A new study just confirmed that the COVID strain that originated in the U.K., called B.1.1.7, could be far deadlier for those infected by it, The Washington Post reports. According to NERVTAG researchers, this variant is 30 to 70 percent deadlier than previous virus strains. The study’s authors concluded that there is significant evidence that B.1.1.7 is “associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death compared to infection” from other strains of the coronavirus. And for more coronavirus concerns, read up on how The U.K.’s Top Scientist Has a Chilling COVID Warning for Americans. While it was just recently confirmed that the U.K. variant is deadlier—a fear Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared a month ago—experts have long suspected that the U.K. strain is more contagious than others, as well. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimate that the variant is 43 to 82 percent more transmissible than previous variants. A Jan. 15 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the strain is spreading so quickly that it is projected to become the dominant variant in the U.S. by March. And for more from the leading U.S. health agency, beware that If You’re Layering These Masks, the CDC Says to Stop Immediately. The CDC has reported three new variants in the U.S., with B.1.1.7 being the most prevalent. As of Feb. 14, the variant has already resulted in 1,173 COVID cases in 40 states across the country. The only states that have not reported cases of the U.K. variant are Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. According to the CDC, Florida has the most cases of the U.K. strain with 379. And for more up-to-date COVID news delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb If you’re worried you may have come down with COVID due to the U.K. variant, you should pay extra attention to your symptoms. A January study from the U.K. government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) analyzed 6,000 COVID patients, discovering that the 3,500 patients who tested positive for B.1.1.7 were more likely to experience four particular symptoms when compared to those infected by other variants: cough, fatigue, muscles aches, and sore throat. And for more COVID red flags to be aware of, know that If You’re Over 65, You Could Be Missing This COVID Symptom, Study Says.
