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The new variant of the coronavirus, which experts fear is more contagious, has already reduced contact with Britain in more than 50 countries.
In France, the infection was first diagnosed in a British citizen living in London on December 19. The patient had no symptoms of the disease, he is in isolation at his home in the central French city of Tours, the Health Ministry said late Friday.
A COVID-19 coronavirus infection test was performed in a hospital on December 21, and the analysis later showed that the person is infected with a new strain of the pathogen.
The health services have discovered which doctors have been in contact with the patient, the ministry said in a statement.
Anyone at risk of becoming infected with this person will also have to isolate themselves, the ministry said.
In addition to the first confirmed case, samples from several other COVID-19 patients are being sequenced in specialized laboratories at the National Pasteur Institute, suspecting that these people may also be infected with a new variant of the VOC 202012/01 coronavirus, the ministry noted.
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