New variant of coronavirus discovered in China – Asia – International

The new variant of covid-19 was discovered in China in a student who traveled back to that country, the authorities announced.

(Read here: The countries that have confirmed the presence of the new covid strain)

In a statement written Wednesday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that the new strain was isolated in a 23-year-old woman who arrived in Shanghai on December 14 from the UK.

The variant was discovered on December 24 in samples from a test. China announced that same day the suspension of its flights with the United Kingdom. This strain is the first new variant to enter China and “poses a serious threat to the prevention and control of covid-19” in the country, according to the statement.

Consequently, control measures were taken, for example the isolation of the infected person. The new variant of the coronavirus is 50% to 74% more contagious than the other existing strains, according to experts.

(You may be interested: UK approves AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine against covid-19)

It has already been found in many countries, including Canada, the United States, Portugal, France, Jordan, South Korea and Chile. China, where the new coronavirus emerged in December 2019, has practically controlled the epidemic.

AFP

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