This Friday, December 25, French health authorities discovered the first case of contamination with the VOC 202012/01 variant of Covid-19. This variant is currently very prevalent in the southeast region of England.
Detected in Tours, the first case is a French citizen residing in the English capital. The individual arrived in France from London on December 19 and tested positive at the university hospital two days later. He is currently in isolation at home but does not show any symptoms of Covid-19.
Public Health France and the National Reference Centers, in collaboration with testing laboratories, have established a monitoring and detection system for possible cases of infection or carriage of the VOC 202012/01 variant. Many positive samples could suggest the presence of the VOC 202012/01 variant. These are currently being sequenced in the NRC laboratories.
The variant is not only affecting England and the UK as cases have been confirmed in several European countries. This is why the authorities are reminding everyone of the importance of immediate isolation. Whether someone is infected with the virus or has been in contact with a confirmed case. Additionally, health authorities are mobilized to address the situation as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
For all individuals wishing to travel from the UK to France, a sensitive and recent test with a negative result is mandatory.
