The more contagious coronavirus variant, first identified in the UK, is now the most common coronavirus strain in the United States, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday.

"Based on our most recent estimates from CDC surveillance, the B.1.1.7 variant is now the most common lineage circulating in the United States," Walensky said at a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing.