FACT:
NERVTAG (New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group) reported on 18th December 2020 that the new COVID - 19 variant (B.1.1.7) had been sequenced early in October, but was only discovered to to be important in December. It's greater rate of transmission than the previous variants, with a 95% confidence interval, was between 67% and 75%.
Perhaps those doubting this fact would care to substantiate their contrary claims, but I'll behave appropriately on the basis of the NERTAG figures.