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French health authorities have confirmed the country’s first case of the virus variant that prompted strict new lockdown measures in Britain and global travel restrictions.
A Frenchman living in England arrived in France on December 19 and tested positive for the new variant on Friday (local time), the French public health agency said in a statement. He had no symptoms and was isolated at his home in the central city of Tours.
Aaron Chown / AP
A man tests a driver for Covid-19 at the Port of Dover in Kent, England, where thousands wait to resume their journey across the English Channel after the borders with France were reopened. (File photo)
Authorities were tracking the person’s contacts and labs were analyzing evidence from several other people who might have the new variant, according to the statement.
Some other European countries have also reported cases of the new variant, which according to British authorities appears more contagious and is spreading rapidly.
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The British announcement on December 19 prompted countries around the world to suspend flights from the UK, with France banning all passengers and cargo from Britain for two days, leading to massive traffic problems around the British port. of Dover.
Aaron Chown / AP
Vehicles queue to move to the departure boarding area waiting to resume their journey through the Canal. (File photo)
France reopened the border, but now requires anyone entering from Britain to have proof that they do not have the new variant.
A second partial lockdown drastically curbed infections in France, but they have risen again in the past two weeks.
France has one of the highest virus death rates in the world with more than 2.5 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and more than 62,000 deaths.
