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U.K. government scientists say more-transmissible #B117 coronavirus variant may also increase death rate by 30 per cent, @guardian reporting.
Teams compared death rates among those who tested positive for new variant with those infected by older variants: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/22/new-uk-covid-variant-may-be-more-deadly-says-boris-johnson
Teams compared death rates among those who tested positive for new variant with those infected by older variants: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/22/new-uk-covid-variant-may-be-more-deadly-says-boris-johnson
Sharing this U.K. finding about #B117 with questions in mind: How many infected individuals were included? (Possibly many, since it's the U.K. but story doesn't say.) What types of patients were looked at, during which time-frames? Will other countries find similar impact?
Getting more insight now (h/t @DocDominik) from the paper itself. According to advisory group, this is:
Preliminary analysis based on relatively small sample of 2,583 deaths, 384 likely tied to #B117
Absolute risk of death per infection remains low https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nervtag-paper-on-covid-19-variant-of-concern-b117
Preliminary analysis based on relatively small sample of 2,583 deaths, 384 likely tied to #B117 Absolute risk of death per infection remains low https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nervtag-paper-on-covid-19-variant-of-concern-b117
More caveats: Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said evidence about mortality levels "not yet strong." Early findings also showed that once people reached hospital, there was no greater risk, but there were signs that people infected with #B117 were at more risk overall.
NEW: Coronavirus variant may be more deadly, but more evidence still needed, says U.K.'s chief scientist.
I'll be on @CBCWorldatSix later to unpack this update on the #B117 variant — and the study's limitations.
Early story with some of my reporting
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-variant-may-be-more-deadly-1.5884190
I'll be on @CBCWorldatSix later to unpack this update on the #B117 variant — and the study's limitations.
Early story with some of my reporting
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-variant-may-be-more-deadly-1.5884190
Early reaction we're hearing from Canadian infectious disease specialists regarding U.K. variant deadliness paper:
Small sample; messy data; more research needed
Unclear whether #B117 results in more severe infections
Still need to be cautious, lower transmission
Small sample; messy data; more research needed Unclear whether #B117 results in more severe infections Still need to be cautious, lower transmission
