More countries worldwide have recorded their own reports of the mutant virus in only a few days since the detection of a new form of COVID-19 in Britain. The number of countries impacted by the latest version hit 15 after Christmas day.
The most recent one was verified on Monday in South Korea. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCPA) identified signs of the United Kingdom (UK) version in three individuals from London who reached South Korea on December 22.
BANGKOK, THAILAND - MARCH 11: A security guard wearing a face mask at The Grand Royal Palace, one of Thailand's most popular tourist attractions, on March 11, 2020, in Bangkok, Thailand. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, February saw a 44.3% drop in the number of tourist arrivals compared to last year due to the recent spread of Covid-19, a new strain of coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China.
Fresh UK Strain COVID-19
Washington Post said cases of the latest strain were recorded on Saturday 26 December 2020 in Australia, Canada, Japan, Lebanon, among others.
Many European countries outside the United Kingdom also recorded cases. These include Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.
On Saturday, Ontario's chief medical officer verified two reports of the latest coronavirus strain in the country, which is the first time the form has been identified in North America.
The Swedish Health Agency clarified that the current version entered the nation after a UK traveler unexpectedly became ill and tested positive for the virus.
Spain detected four cases of the latest strain on December 26. Al Jazeera cited Deputy Health Chief Antonio Zapatero of the Madrid regional government, who clarified that all four cases were citizens from the United Kingdom who recently landed in the country.
France, Japan, and Lebanon greeted Christmas Day with reports of a promising case of the current COVID-19 version. The French ministry reported that the current COVID-19 prototype was checked positively by a French citizen who arrived in the country from London last December 19.
A few cases of the new strain could be identified, especially as the first two confirmed cases, a few, did not have a known travel background, suggesting they contracted the disease through the community's spread.
As per Aljazeera, experts believe the latest strain (VUI 202012/01) first emerged in the country in mid-September.
Spreading beyond the UK
Some cases linked to the latest strain have not been reported by the United States, which remains the top nation with the most cases of the disease. Still, experts claim that this may be attributed to the "very low rate of genetic sequencing" of the country's current coronavirus, which tests for such improvements.
The US, though, would continue to place tougher standards on travelers from Britain. In comparison, other nations are doing the same thing.
As per the news source, anybody flying from the UK to the US must indicate a negative COVID-19 test given within 72 hours of the aircraft's departure.
Japan, which has reported five new strain-related cases of COVID-19, is under immediate lockout as all foreign citizens, with the exception of locals, will be barred from entering the country from Monday 28 December 2020 until the end of January 2021.
Travel prohibition for the UK
Some countries have also implemented a stringent travel ban that forbids anyone from the UK, following the unexpected increase in cases of the current COVID-19 strain around the globe. These nations include at least 30 countries, according to CNN.
Johnson reported earlier that London and southern England would be put under Level 4 constraints where the latest strain was first found. This suggests that at least 17 million people would be required to strictly sit at home, skip visiting other household persons, and attend non-essential activities.
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