UK virus variant ‘more transmissible, but does not increase disease severity’

One observational study of patients in London hospitals suggested the variant is not associated with more severe illness and death, but appears to lead to higher viral load.

Kent variant ‘more transmissible, but does not increase disease severity’. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA

The coronavirus variant first detected in Kent, and now dominant in the UK and a number of other countries, is more transmissible but does not increase disease severity, research has suggested.

Two studies found no evidence that people with the B117 variant have worse symptoms or a heightened risk of developing long Covid then those with a different strain.