The variant of the coronavirus, which first appeared in England, is apparently becoming more and more common. In Denmark, for example, it is now found in more than every fourth CoV sample analyzed. This is based on preliminary figures from the Danish health institute SSI. According to this, variant B.1.1.7 was detected in 28.5 percent of the samples sequenced up to yesterday from the first week of February. In the week before, the share was still 20.3 percent, at the turn of the year it was only 2.1 percent.
The numbers are continuously updated and can therefore still change. For the first time, the British virus variant was detected in Denmark in random samples on November 14th. According to SSI, there is consensus that the mutant is more contagious than other types of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The concern about variants like this is also the main reason why strict lockdown measures continue to apply in Denmark despite declining coronavirus numbers.
Italy: Almost every fifth infection
So far, B.1.1.7 has been detected in 1,859 people in Denmark. It was discovered in 5.4 percent of the samples sequenced so far. The SSI estimates that B.1.1.7 will probably be the dominant virus variant in the course of February.
In Italy, according to an estimate by the Ministry of Health, almost every fifth CoV infection is currently due to the so-called British variant. On average, according to a sample analysis, there are around 17 percent of infections nationwide, the ministry announced on Friday.
Increase also in the USA
The proportion of B.1.1.7 in the infection rate is also growing in the USA. In the course of the next month, the variant “almost certainly” will become the predominant one in many states, according to a recently presented US study.
