New Delhi: France on Friday late night reported the first case of a new coronavirus strain. The French citizen, who had returned from the United Kingdom (UK) has tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus.
The French Health Ministry said that “The man is asymptomatic and is currently undergoing self-isolation at home. Health authorities have carried out contact-tracing for the health professionals taking care of the patient.”
Any of their contacts that were seen as vulnerable would similarly be isolated. In addition to this first case, several other positive samples that may suggest the VOC 202012/01 variant are being sequenced by the specialist laboratories of the national Pasteur Institute, the statement added.
France has opened its borders to the UK to allow French citizens to return home. France’s interior ministry said “Limits on travel from the UK will continue until at least January 6.”
France allows French citizens and other people to enter France after confirming the COVID-19 test report negative less than three days old.
The new strain of the coronavirus was firstly detected in the United Kingdom last week. This virus is 70 per cent more transmissible than other SARS-CoV-2 variants.
On Friday, the World Health Organization said that the new type of coronavirus had been already registered in eight European countries.
According to the French government data – France is the most coronavirus affected country in Europe and the UK is second most coronavirus affected country. More than 2.5 million people were affected by the coronavirus in France and more than 60 thousand people had lost their lives.
New strain of coronavirus also reported in Japan, Germany, Nigeria and many other countries.
-Vinayak
