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In the Spanish capital, Madrid, the new variant B.1.1.7 of the coronavirus has been identified in four people, said the Deputy Minister of Health, Antonio Zpatero. All four have recently returned from Britain, he said. In three other suspected cases, test results are still pending.
However, none of the four patients in Spain have severe symptoms. “We know that this new variant is easier to transmit, but it does not lead to a more severe course of the disease,” Zapatero said. He assured that there was no cause for concern.
First case in Sweden
The first case of a carrier of the new mutated virus was also registered in Sweden. According to the Swedish Ministry of Health, a traveler who recently returned from the UK tested positive for the new strain of the virus and is currently in quarantine. So far, no other cases of vectors of the new mutated virus are known in Sweden.
Japan is closing itself off to foreigners
The Japanese authorities have responded to the threat with strict measures: as of Monday, foreigners will not be allowed to enter the country, the Nikei newspaper reported. The measure is temporary and will be valid until the end of January 2021. The reason for imposing this restriction was the discovery of a new dangerous mutation of the virus, also in people who have traveled to the United Kingdom.
The Philippines also extended the UK flight ban for two weeks, until mid-January. The goal is to prevent the spread of the new version of the coronavirus, said President Rodrigo Duterte. Anyone who has recently returned from the UK or from countries where the most contagious new strain of the virus has been identified is subject to a 14-day quarantine. The region includes Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and Japan.
The dangerous strain has also been registered in France.
Also in France, there is already the first case of a carrier of the new mutated virus: a man from the city of Tours, who returned from Great Britain on December 19. He is currently in quarantine, the Paris Health Ministry said. The man traveled to London and developed symptoms after returning to France, but generally felt fine.
President Emmanuel Macron has made a full recovery from the illness after testing positive for COVID-19. He and his wife spend the weekend at Breganson’s Ford summer residence on the Mediterranean.
The new strain is also in Germany
In Germany, a week ago the mutated variant B.1.1.7 of the coronavirus was identified. A woman from the state of Baden-Württemberg, who had returned from Great Britain, tested positive for the new strain. He was tested after landing at Frankfurt am Main airport last Sunday (December 20) and a day later his diagnosis was confirmed by a PCR test. The patient is currently in home quarantine.
So far a total of 33 cases of patients with the new coronavirus have been identified in Denmark. In another neighbor of Germany, the Netherlands, it was also registered.
About a week ago, the British government announced that a dangerous new mutation of the coronavirus had been discovered in the country, which is up to 70 percent more contagious. This has caused alarm around the world and more than 50 countries have banned the entry of passengers from Great Britain.
Bulgaria lifted the ban
Bulgaria was also among them before flights from the UK resumed on December 23. Passengers arriving from the island are subjected to antigen tests and quarantined for 10 days, and as of January 1 a negative PCR test will be required 72 hours before arrival in the country.
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