In Germany, a patient was found infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strain, which appeared as a result of a mutation and was first identified by Brazilian doctors. Reported by The Local.
The infection was introduced into the country by a resident of Frankfurt am Main, who returned from a trip to Brazil on January 21. The infection was confirmed by a PCR test. It became known that he was infected while on board the plane; the rest of the passengers were quarantined upon arrival. Prior to this case, this strain was not recorded in the country.
The disease in a citizen of Germany is asymptomatic. Doctors note that there is no evidence that the Brazilian strain leads to a more severe course of the disease or is able to spread faster than usual, as is the case with the British strain.
On January 20, the World Health Organization announced that the coronavirus strain detected in the UK has already been identified in 60 countries and regions. At the same time, the coronavirus mutation found in South Africa has been identified in three more countries, and their total number has reached 23.