Covid-19: 50 to 74% more contagious, the British variant of the virus spreads globally

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Covid-19: In which countries has the new strain of the virus been spotted? –

LSHTM researchers “have yet to find any evidence that individuals who contract the new variant have an” increased risk of hospitalization or death. “On the other hand, the likely” sharp increase “in the number of cases caused by the variant could have important consequences on the outcome of the epidemic, they believe.

By sticking to the restrictive measures in place before December 19 in the United Kingdom, their models conclude that “the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to Covid-19 will reach higher levels in 2021 than those observed in 2020 “. Indeed, “if the current trend continues, the new variant could represent 90% of cases by mid-January”, concludes Nick Davies.

The variant now present in eleven other countries

While many countries have closed their borders with the United Kingdom, eleven reported, this Monday, December 28, cases of contamination with the new variant on their territory: Canada, Jordan, Japan, France, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Lebanon and Denmark.

A first infection was detected in France on Friday, December 25, in Tours, in a Frenchman usually residing in the United Kingdom. The man, asymptomatic, was isolated at his home, the health ministry said in a report. communicated.

This is the “first contamination with the VOC 202012/01 variant of the Covid-19 virus” detected in France, he said. The man arrived “from London on December 19” and was “taken care of” in hospital two days later after being “tested positive for coronavirus”. Doctors suspecting that he is affected by the variant strain, a “sequencing” of the virus carried by this patient had been requested from the National Reference Center for Respiratory Infections Viruses. The latter confirmed the infection with the VOC 202012/01 variant on Friday.

“The health authorities proceeded to contact-tracing health professionals who have taken care of the patient and looking for his contact persons at risk, to proceed to their strict isolation “, specifies the press release. In addition to this case,” to date, several positive samples can be mentioned the 202012/01 VOC variant are being sequenced by the CNR laboratories “, suggesting more infections with the new variant, adds the ministry.

Later in the day, four confirmed cases of contamination with the British variant were also detected for the first time in Spain, in Madrid, the regional government said. All of the cases concern people who have recently arrived from the United Kingdom, the number two health authority in the region, Antonio Zapatero, said at a press conference.

The confirmation of the first case in France came just before the launch of the vaccination campaign, which began Sunday, December 27 in Sevran, Seine-Saint-Denis and Dijon.