France: Breton coronavirus variant B.1.616 – “A new Sars-Cov-2 variant poorly detected by RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal samples, with high lethality”

We report a nosocomial outbreak of COVID-19 cases related to a new variant, B.1.616, characterized by poor detection by RT-PCR tests on nasopharyngeal samples despite typical clinical, radiological, and biological features of COVID-19.   More...

France: Breton variant B.1.616 – 37 cases & 16 deaths with just 9% of cases detected by first RT-PCR coronavirus test

As of 04/21, 37 confirmed cases of infection with the 20C / 655Y [B.1.616] variant have been reported in France, including 34 in Brittany and 3 in other regions in people linked to the area of ​​circulation of the virus in Brittany (made up of several urban communities around Lannion, Guingamp, Saint-Brieuc, Paimpol).  More...

France: 25 cases of Breton coronavirus variant B.1.616 recorded so far, 22 in Brittany, 3 elsewhere

Clade 20C variant that emerged in Brittany.  A cluster of infections with a 20C clade variant (“20C / 655Y variant” or B.1.616), was detected in the Côtes d´Armor, with cases occurring between January and March 2021.  More...