The new strain of coronavirus responsible for the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the UK has escaped to the rest of the world.
Cases of the most contagious virus mutation that nearly left the UK almost closed before Christmas have been confirmed not only in several European countries, but also in Japan and Australia.
Japan has identified five cases with the UK strain, all in people who recently arrived from the UK, The Guardian reported. The five people were quarantined, but the presence of the strain is worrying in a country that managed to crack down on COVID in the early days of the pandemic and is seeing a rapid increase in cases now.
A case of the UK variant has been found in France so far, also in someone who traveled to the UK and arrived in Tours from London last weekend. French health officials say several other suspected cases are being tested.
The variant was also found in Denmark, Italy, Gibraltar, the Netherlands and Australia, according to Sky News. Most cases involve people who have traveled from the UK.
Russia was the last country to require UK travelers to be quarantined, easing restrictions after previously adhering to the country’s travel ban.
A strain that looks very similar to the UK strain has been found in South Africa, but experts are still unsure whether it is the same or another variant. Another variant is circulating in Nigeria.