Source: Channel News Asia | Editor: Khomarul Hidayat
KONTAN.CO.ID – MADRID. More and more countries are reporting cases of infection from a new variant of the corona virus found in the UK. Most recently, Spain reported the first case of a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus that emerged in Britain.
On Saturday (26/12), Madrid’s local government reported that four cases had been detected involving people who had recently arrived from Britain or had close contact with someone who experienced them.
As reported Channel News Asia, the father, mother and sister of a young man who arrived in Madrid by plane last week have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The young man is suspected of having a new variant too, but Spanish authorities are awaiting PCR test results to confirm this.
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The fourth confirmed case of this new variant involves a man who arrived in Madrid on December 20 on another flight.
“The patients are not very sick, we know that this strain is more contagious, but does not cause more serious illness,” Madrid deputy regional health chief Antonio Zapatero told a news conference.
“No need to worry,” he said again.
Zapatero said there were three other suspected cases of the coronavirus variant but test results will only be available on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The new strain of the virus has prompted more than 50 countries including Spain to impose travel restrictions in the UK.
Madrid has banned all people arriving from Britain except for citizens and residents of Spain.
France and Italy have also confirmed cases of the new variant. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization reports that nine cases have been detected in Denmark and one each in the Netherlands and Australia.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new strain of coronavirus may be 70 percent more contagious than the original version of the disease.
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