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The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) did not rule out on Sunday the possibility that the new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus reported in the United Kingdom is already circulating outside the country, while more and more states EU members decide to suspend air links with British territory, the latest being Germany and Bulgaria, reports AFP.
The new strain of coronavirus is more contagious, but not more deadly, according to experts. According to the British government’s scientific advisor, Patrick Vallance, it appeared in mid-September in London or Kent, and is currently tending to become the “dominant” form in the UK and has led to a sharp increase in hospitalizations in December. so the maximum level of anti-epidemic restrictions was set in London and a part of England, Agerpres reports.
According to the ECDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), several cases of infection with the new strain have already been confirmed outside the UK, respectively nine cases in Denmark and one each in the Netherlands and Australia.
“Most EU countries carry out a much lower virus sequencing rate than the UK (UK and Northern Ireland), so movement outside the UK cannot be ruled out,” he warns. ECDC in a first risk assessment.
“People who have an epidemiological link to cases of the new variant or who have traveled to infected sectors should be identified immediately,” the European agency said, urging authorities in EU member states to “test, isolate and identify contacts “. ‘.
All EU states could disrupt flights with the UK
Meanwhile, German Health Minister Jens Spahn announced that air connections between Germany and Great Britain will be suspended from midnight on Sunday. Other EU member states have already decided to suspend flights to and from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for the time being Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria.
According to a government source in Berlin, cited by AFP, this decision to suspend flights could be taken throughout the European Union and member states are discussing in parallel a joint response on maritime, rail and road links with the United Kingdom. Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Publisher: AC
