Nosocomial COVID-19, a risk illustrated by the first in-hospital transmission of B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a French University Hospital

OBJECTIVES: In this short report, we describe the first nosocomial spread of B.1.1.7 variant (GR/20I/501Y.V1) in a French hospital, underlining the different aspects of in-hospital transmission of SARS-CoV-2. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of a SARS-CoV-2 cluster investigation in January 2021. All cases were screened with RT-PCR. RESULTS: First transmission occurred in a double room with a COVID-19 imported cases, undetected upon admission. Healthcare workers, their relatives and patients’ relatives were screened. Eleven secondary cases were identified within a week, in and out of the hospital (in hospital attack rate: 3.1%). No severe COVID-19 was encountered. CONCLUSIONS: This report highlights several in-hospital chains of transmission involved with COVID-19 with rapid spread.