FRANKFURT — A new variant of the SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, that has been spreading rapidly in Britain has been found in Germany for the first time, the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said on Thursday.
The infected person flew to Frankfurt from London Heathrow on Dec. 20 to visit relatives and tested positive upon arrival. Further genetic analysis of the sample at a lab in Berlin has yielded a case of B.1.1.7, as the variant is known, the southwestern German state’s health ministry said in a statement.
“This is the first known case in Germany,” it added.
The person, who has since developed mild symptoms, was picked up from the airport by ca…
Keep on reading: Germany reports first case of coronavirus variant spreading in British