COVID-19: France discovers its first case of new coronavirus variant

 

The country's health ministry has said that France has confirmed its first recorded case of the new coronavirus variant that was first discovered in the UK.

The scenario is that of a French citizen living in England who, on 19 December, left London for Tours, France.

 

The new variant, dubbed VUI-202012/01, has worried experts and global leaders as it is thought to be up to 70% more transmissible - meaning it can spread much faster.

 

After the variant was identified in southeast England, countries across the world soon scrambled to close their borders to the UK and prevent it from reaching their citizens.

 

France imposed some of the strictest travel restrictions on UK travellers, preventing hauliers from crossing the Channel in the run-up to Christmas and causing chaos at the Port of Dover.

 

On Tuesday evening, the UK and French governments reached an agreement allowing rail, air and sea services to resume for French citizens or residents, or for urgent reasons such as hauliers transporting goods.

 

They are now allowed to cross the border if they have a negative coronavirus test.

 

However, the new variant case discovered by French health authorities entered France before the travel ban was imposed.

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French Health Minister Olivier Veran stated earlier this week that it was 'absolutely possible' that the new variant was already circulating in the region, despite the fact that officials had not found any evidence at the time.

 

In Denmark, Italy, Gibraltar, the Netherlands and Australia, cases of the latest variant have also been confirmed.

 

While it is suspected that it progresses more rapidly, so far there is no proof that the new variant induces more serious illness or is capable of preventing vaccinations.