The infected person, a French national living in the United Kingdom, is asymptomatic and has been isolated at his home.
Le Monde with AFP
A first case of contamination by the variant of the Covid-19 virus which appeared in the United Kingdom was detected on Friday, December 25 in France, in Tours, announced the Ministry of Health.
The infected person, a French resident in the United Kingdom, is asymptomatic and was isolated at his home, a statement said. Arrived “from London on December 19”, he “was taken care of at the CHU on the 21 and detected positive”, reports the ministry, for whom it is about the “first contamination with the VOC variant 202012/01 of the virus” of the Covid-19 detected in France.
Several samples “in the course of sequencing”
As provided for in the procedure put in place after the discovery in the south-east of the United Kingdom of this variant, possibly more contagious, a “sequencing” of the virus carried by this patient had been requested National Reference Center for Respiratory Infection Viruses. The latter confirmed on Friday the infection with the VOC variant 202012/01.
“The health authorities proceeded to the contact-tracing of health professionals who have taken care of the patient and looking for his contact persons at risk, to proceed to their strict isolation “, it is specified.
In addition to this case, “to date, several positive samples that may suggest the VOC 202012/01 variant are being sequenced by the CNR laboratories”, adds the ministry.