Spain confirms first case of coronavirus variant present in UK
Announcement comes after authorities in France and Lebanon additionally verify circumstances of the UK variant.
Four circumstances of a coronavirus variant that not too long ago emerged within the United Kingdom and is believed to be notably infectious, have been confirmed in Madrid, the regional authorities has stated.
All 4 circumstances, the primary detected in Spain, concerned individuals who not too long ago arrived from the UK, the Madrid regional authorities’s deputy well being chief Antonio Zapatero advised a information convention on Saturday.
“The patients are not seriously ill, we know that this strain is more transmissible, but it does not cause more serious illness,” he stated. “There is no need for alarm.”
There are one other three suspected circumstances of the coronavirus variant however the outcomes of checks will solely be obtainable on Tuesday or Wednesday, Zapatero stated.
On Friday, authorities in Lebanon and France additionally confirmed circumstances of the brand new variant.
Since Tuesday, Madrid has banned all entries from the UK aside from Spanish nationals and residents.
The information comes because the Spanish authorities is predicted to obtain 4.5 million Pfizer vaccine doses over the following 12 weeks, sufficient to vaccinate some 2.2 million individuals, in line with the ministry.
The authorities expects to have between 15 million and 20 million individuals of its inhabitants of 47 million vaccinated towards the virus by June.
Travels banned
The new pressure of the virus, which consultants worry is extra contagious, has prompted greater than 50 international locations to impose journey restrictions on the UK.
The US on Thursday stated it is going to require all passengers arriving from the UK to current a damaging COVID-19 take a look at for entry, whereas China suspended all flights from Britain over the brand new pressure.
Other international locations which have suspended journey for Britons embody France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Canada, India, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia and Jordan.
In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman closed their borders fully.
Authorities in France, following a snap 48-hour journey ban this week, reopened its borders to the UK – partly to permit French residents to return dwelling, in addition to to alleviate the large build-up of freight items – however had launched a testing coverage.
