LISBON: The new variant of the coronavirus linked to a speedy rise in infections in Britain has been detected on the Portuguese island of Madeira, the first cases of the more contagious variant found within the nation since it emerged.
In a report on Sunday, the regional civil protection authority mentioned the new variant was “detected in travelers who arrived in Madeira from the UK” however it didn’t specify how many individuals had been infected or when the cases were found.
“This identification was only possible due to the work developed by the screening center at Madeira’s international airport which allows tracking, determine, and forward positive cases to isolation when detected,” it mentioned.
Portugal, with simply over 10 million people, has reported 6,619 deaths and a total of 394,573 infections, up by 1,577 cases from Saturday. After a relatively mild first wave, cases rose sharply within the second, although they have eased recently.
Early analysis of the new variant showed it doesn’t make individuals more ill and that signs weren’t more severe however it’s thought to be more contagious than different currently circulating variants.
In response to the new variant and like different European Union nations, Portugal announced final week it was closing borders to UK travelers, except to these already registered as residents and Portuguese residents living in the UK.
