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

• Published in: Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles Vol. 26; no. 9
• Main Authors: Gaymard, Alexandre, Bosetti, Paolo, Feri, Adeline, Destras, Gregory, Enouf, Vincent, Andronico, Alessio, Burrel, Sonia, Behillil, Sylvie, Sauvage, Claire, Bal, Antonin, Morfin, Florence, Van Der Werf, Sylvie, Josset, Laurence, Blanquart, François, Coignard, Bruno, Cauchemez, Simon, Lina, Bruno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Centre Europeen pour la Surveillance Epidemiologique du SIDA (European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS) 04.03.2021; European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
• Subjects: Antibodies; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Disease transmission; Emerging diseases; France; France - epidemiology; Glycoproteins; Human health and pathology; Humans; Life Sciences; Meta-analysis; Microbiology and Parasitology; Mutation; Paris; Rapid Communication; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Virology; France; Paris; COVID; mutation; SARS-CoV-2; viral infections; 20I/501Y.V1; surveillance; France
• ISSN: 1560-7917; 1025-496X; 1560-7917; 1025-496X
• DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2021.26.9.2100133

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.