The cases of a new variant of COVID-19 detected for the first time in England were confirmed by health officials from Canada, Japan and several other European Union countries on Saturday.
Why does it matter: Although there is no evidence that the variant is more deadly than the original strain, the announcement by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that it could be 70% more transmissible has led dozens of countries to ban travel to the United Kingdom.
- The strain, called B.1.1.7, has spurred an increase in cases that have seen tens of millions of people in England and Wales blocked from the holidays.
- Some officials worry that it could have spread unnoticed worldwide, as few countries have a type of sophisticated genomic surveillance that has allowed British scientists to find the option, according to the New York Times.
What happens: The Canadian Public Health Agency confirmed the first two cases in North America of the new coronavirus strain on Saturday night in the province of Ontario.
- The agency said in a statement that “these two cases did not travel outside of Canada.”
Officials from Japan said on Saturday that the country will close its border with all non-resident foreign nationals from midnight on Monday until January 31, after seven people gave positive results for the variant, NHK broadcaster reports.
In Spain, The regional government in Madrid announced on Saturday that four people have become infected with the variant, according to Al Jazeera.
Swedish Public Health Agency The strain was detected on a newly returned traveler from Britain on Saturday, Reuters notes.
French Ministry of Health confirmed the first case B.1.1.7 in the country late on Friday, on AFP.
For registration: Coronavirus vaccines are beginning to be launched in North America, European Union countries and nations around the world.
- The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter on Saturday“Vaccination is the sustainable way out of the pandemic.”
- There is no evidence that strain B.1.1.7 may affect the effectiveness of these vaccinations.