A new study on the variant of COVID-19 permeating in England and popping up in Canada suggests the mutation isn’t any more likely to lead to hospitalization or death.
That’s good news, experts agree. But the same study reinforces what others before it have inferred — that this variant is “substantially” more transmissible.
While the data is still early and preliminary, it’s “not something we should dismiss,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert based out of Toronto General Hospital.
“Just because it doesn’t seem to be more deadly doesn’t mean it’s not a problem,” said Bogoch.
“It’s still not entirely clear to what extent its more transmissible, but, even so, a more transmissible virus would be challenging. It would pose significant challenges to a population.”
In the new technical report, released Tuesday, British researchers compared nearly 1,800 people infected with the new variant to the same number of those infected with the “regular” or “wild type” of COVID-19.
Their study found no significant difference in mortality or morbidity, nor in the likelihood of reinfection.