COVID-19 evolution during the pandemic – Implications of new SARS-CoV-2 variants on disease control and public health policies.

In recent weeks, several new strains of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, have emerged. A recent analysis of the transmission characteristics of the B.1.1.7 variant stratified by age suggests that its higher R SB 0 sb may be largely attributable to an increase in transmission to and among school-age children, whilst infection rates for older people appear to be less affected [[2]]. Higher transmission rates require a higher level of immunity to bring R SB 0 sb below one [[12]] and a more transmissible virus strain, such as the UK B.1.1.7 requires more people to be vaccinated in order to keep the virus and the disease it causes under control. [Extracted from the article]