ROME – Italy has detected the new strain of the coronavirus in a patient who had recently arrived in the country from Britain, reported Anadolu Agency quoting Italian health officials.
The patient had landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport and is now in quarantine, the country’s health ministry said.
Several European countries, including Italy, have banned flights to and from the UK after the country announced the outbreak of a new strain of the virus in London and southern England.
With a surging new coronavirus strain, fresh restrictions will cancel Christmas mixing in London, the southeast and the east of England, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnsons announced yesterday.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock also said yesterday that the new coronavirus strain is “out of control.”
Over 1,100 people in the UK have been infected with the new strain of the virus, according to official figures.
Experts have said that the new strain is less deadly, but more infectious and has the potential to put a heavier burden on health systems. – Bernama, December 21, 2020