Sweden and Spain joined a rising listing of nations to have reported a case of the brand new variant (Footage: Reuters/Getty)
Sweden has change into the most recent nation to report its first case of the extremely contagious coronavirus variant which has swept throughout the UK.
It was detected in a traveller who fell ailing after arriving from Britain and later examined optimistic, the Swedish well being company mentioned on Saturday.
Well being official Sara Byfors advised reporters the particular person has been self-isolating and that no additional optimistic circumstances had to this point been detected.
Spain additionally reported its first circumstances of the faster-spreading pressure on Boxing Day, with all 4 individuals who examined optimistic mentioned to be in good well being. Officers mentioned it arrived when an contaminated particular person flew into Madrid.
The brand new variant, dubbed VUI-202012/01, sparked worldwide concern after scientists warned it could possibly be as much as 70% extra transmissible than others at the moment in circulation.
After it was found in southeast England, nations all over the world closed their borders to travellers from the UK in an effort to forestall the variant reaching their shores.
A Swedish police officer adjusts a protecting masks on the border management level at Hyllie station (Image: Reuters)
A border management officer stands at Oresund bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark (Image: Reuters)
France, which has additionally recorded a case of the mutant pressure, imposed a few of the harshest restrictions, banning hauliers from crossing the Channel.
The non permanent prohibition prompted chaos on the Port of Dover as 1000’s of lorry drivers had been stranded ready to take a take a look at earlier than they might cross.
Spain additionally banned travellers from the UK, though Spanish nationals had been permitted to return, whereas Eire has prolonged its ban till New 12 months’s Eve.
Individuals stroll previous retailers beneath Christmas decorations in Stockholm (Image: AFP by way of Getty)
Individuals go for a stroll alongside a promenade in Barcelona (Image: EPA)
Different nations have additionally reported circumstances of the brand new variant.
Japan has confirmed 5 infections in passengers who had all arrived from the UK, whereas Denmark, Australia, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines have all additionally reported circumstances.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte prolonged a ban on flights from the UK on Saturday by one other two weeks to mid-January in a bid to forestall its unfold.
He additionally ordered a 14-day quarantine for passengers that got here from or transited in the UK, and from nations the place the extra infectious Covid-19 variant was detected.
A army convoy escorting a van that transports the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine (Image: AFP by way of Getty)
Containers of Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccines are loaded right into a van for distribution (Image: Reuters)
In the meantime, nations throughout the EU are set to start rolling out the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Sunday.
The primary shipments arrived at hospitals throughout the continent in super-cold containers late Friday and early Saturday after being despatched from a producing centre in Belgium earlier than Christmas.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen launched a video celebrating the vaccine rollout, calling it ‘a touching second of unity’.
She added: ‘As we speak, we begin turning the web page on a troublesome yr. The Covid-19 vaccine has been delivered to all EU nations. Vaccination will start tomorrow throughout the EU.’
The rollout marks a second of hope for a area that features a few of the world’s earliest and worst-hit virus sizzling spots – together with Italy and Spain – and others just like the Czech Republic, which had been spared early on solely to see their well being care techniques close to breaking level within the autumn.
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