France confirms first case of new Covid-19 variant

A medical student secures a swab following antigen testing for Covid-19
POOL/AFP via Getty Images
April Roach @aprilroach2826 December 2020

France has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus variant which has spread across the UK.

The mutated strain of Covid-19 led to the UK introducing harsher lockdown measures across the country and prompted France to close its border, causing severe disruption at the port of Dover.

The case is a French national living in the UK who left London for the central town of Tours on December 19, the French health ministry said.   

His case was confirmed after he tested for the virus in hospital on December 21.

The ministry said the man is asymptomatic and is currently self-isolating at home.

Other countries including Japan, Denmark, Australia and the Netherlands have all reported cases of the variant, which is said to be a more transmissible strain of Covid-19.

France has reported more than 2.2 million cases and more than 62,000 Covid-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Johns Hopkins University data.

Police hold back truck drivers trying to enter the Port of Dover in Kent

Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dover
1/23

On Tuesday, the European country reached an agreement with the UK to ease its travel ban.

France allowed visitors from the UK via planes, boats and the Eurostar, providing they can produce a negative test.

The travel restrictions meant thousands of drivers who were left stranded at the port, spent Christmas Day in their lorries.

France was accused of over-reacting to the new strain of Covid-19 after more than 2,000 lorry drivers waiting to leave the port returned negative tests. Just three drivers had positive tests, said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Around 3,000 hauliers were still waiting to cross into France from Kent on Friday evening despite hundreds of troops being drafted in to help clear the backlog.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said, while 4,500 lorries had crossed the channel since French authorities eased restrictions on Wednesday, more vehicles were continuing to arrive “every hour”.

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