Isolation and characterization of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant in travellers from the United Kingdom to India: VUI-202012/01 of the B.1.1.7 lineage

We have isolated the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 variant of concern 202012/01 from the positive coronavirus disease 2019 cases that travelled from the UK to India in the month of December 2020. This emphasizes the need for the strengthened surveillance system to limit the local transmission of this new variant.

Automated summary

Researchers have identified a new variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 from COVID-19 cases that travelled from the UK to India in December 2020, highlighting the importance of strengthening surveillance systems to prevent local transmission of this new variant.