A new strain of coronavirus, identified in December in the Republic of South Africa (South Africa), reached Canada. This was announced by the chief sanitary officer of the province of Albert Danny Hinshaw, reports CBC.
The virus was detected in a person who recently returned from a trip abroad. It is currently in quarantine.
“The man was immediately isolated at home as soon as symptoms appeared. He is now healthy and well,” said Hinsho. The specialists identified the persons with whom the infected person communicated after his return, but “no contact posing risks were recorded.”
Also, the first cases of infection with the 501.V2 virus were detected in Switzerland. A new mutation of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa in mid-December 2020. A previously unknown species of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the country was named 501.V2. The South African Minister of Health emphasized that the second wave of coronavirus in the country is probably associated with this mutation of the disease. This strain is different from the coronavirus mutation found in the UK and later in other countries.