Risk for International Importations of Variant SARS-CoV-2 Originating in the United Kingdom

Abstract

A fast-spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant identified in the United Kingdom in December 2020 has raised international alarm. We analyzed data from 15 countries and estimated that the chance that this variant was imported into these countries by travelers from the United Kingdom by December 7 is >50%.

Keywords

• 2019 novel coronavirus disease
• coronavirus disease
• COVID-19
• severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• SARS-CoV-2
• viruses