STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – The new variant of the coronavirus linked to a rapid increase in infections in Britain was detected in Sweden after a UK traveler fell ill and tested positive, the Swedish Health Agency said on Saturday.
Health Agency worker Sara Byfors told a news conference that the traveler had been isolating and that no other positive cases had been detected so far.
The unidentified traveler was in Sormland, south of Stockholm, according to Signe Makitalo, a regional infection control doctor. The new variant is considered to be more transmissible than the others currently circulating.
“The person who tested positive for the virus traveled to Britain’s Sormland for a Christmas visit,” said Makitalo, adding that the risk of further contagion in the case was considered extremely limited.
Sweden imposed travel restrictions earlier this month on British passengers amid concerns about the variant. Similar measures have been taken by several other EU countries and around the world.
Reporting by Niklas Pollard; Editing by Johan Ahlander and Mike Harrison