A latest study shows that the new mutated COVID-19 strain, which has been spreading in the United Kingdom, appears to be more contagious and will likely lead to higher levels of hospitalisations and deaths in 2021, reported Bloomberg.

According to the study by the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, this variant is 56% more transmissible than other strains. However, there is  no clear evidence that it results in more or less severe disease.

According to the UK government, the mutated variant appeared to be as much as 70% more transmissible than other circulating strains. 

Also read: Four found infected with new coronavirus strain in Belgium

Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser said on December 19 that the strain has almost two dozen mutations that may affect proteins made by the coronavirus.

While this has raised concern that tests, treatments and vaccines that just started rolling out might be less effective, Europe’s health regulator said the variant probably is not different enough from earlier ones to elude Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE’s shot.

Several countries such as Australia, Denmark and Singapore have also discovered the strain.

According to the study, vaccine rollouts may need to be accelerated to contain virus’ spread, to a rate of 2 million people a week from the current pace of 200,000.