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The UK has detected a new variant of the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus in contacts of people who entered the country from South Africa, British Health Minister Matt Hancock said, quoted by Reuters.
The South African Ministry of Health announced last week that a new genetic mutation in the virus had been discovered there, which could be responsible for the recent increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19 in the country.
“Due to the impressive genomic capacity of South Africans, we have detected two cases of infection with another new coronavirus variant in the UK,” said Hancock.
“Both are positive case contacts that have come from South Africa in recent weeks,” he said.
Britain is already struggling to limit the spread of a mutant strain of the virus, which is up to 70% more transmissible, and Hancock said the new South African variant appears to be even more contagious.
Direct contacts of people infected with the new variant were quarantined. Furthermore, all people who have been to South Africa in the last two weeks must remain in solitary confinement.
Hancock also said that immediate travel restrictions are imposed in South Africa.
Editing: Monica Bonea
