The new coronavirus variant linked to a rapid rise in infections in Britain has now been detected in Sweden after a traveller from the United Kingdom tested positive, the Swedish Health Agency said on Saturday (local time).
Health Agency official Sara Byfors told a news conference the traveller had been isolating and that no further positive cases had been detected so far.
The unidentified traveller was staying in Sormland, south of Stockholm, according to Signe Makitalo, a regional infection control doctor. The new variant is thought to be more transmissible than others currently circulating.
"The person that tested positive with the virus travelled to Sormland from Great Britain for a visit over Christmas," Makitalo said, adding that the risk of further contagion from the case was considered extremely limited.
Sweden imposed travel restrictions earlier this month on passengers from Britain amid concerns over the variant. Similar measures have been taken by several other countries in the EU and across the world.
Reuters
