New, more contagious variants of coronavirus are likely to accelerate the spread of the virus, and the US should double down on efforts to protect people, stated the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

B.1.1.7, the variant first detected in Britain, is being found in the US as well, and modeling suggests that it could worsen the spread of the virus across the country, noted the CDC researchers. This emphasizes that people must try harder to wear masks, avoid gatherings and practice social distancing. Dr. Gregory Armstrong and colleagues wrote in the CDCs weekly report, the MMWR, that evidence suggests that B.1.1.7 is more efficiently transmitted in comparison with other SARS-CoV-2 variants… (CNN, January 16, 2021)