JUST IN: South African COVID variant has been in Mozambique since November – minister

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JUST IN: South African COVID variant has been in Mozambique since November – minister

5:24 CAT | 27 Jan 2021

Photo: O País

It’s official. The South African COVID-19 strain, known for reaching younger patients and being more resistant to antibodies, has been circulating in Mozambique since November 2020, announced Minister of Health Armindo Tiago, this afternoon.

“Since November [2020], the new South African variant has been circulating” i Armindo Tiago told the press. The minister was speaking at the Mavalane General Hospital, in Maputo city, where he went to monitor the work on the installation of new beds for patients diagnosed with Covid.19.

Also read: Watch: Severe COVID variant detected in South Africa: minister

The increase in newly diagnosed cases, hospitalisations and deaths in the country, especially since the 1st of January, is not only due to the existence of the South African variant, the minister said, but also to non-compliance with preventive measure

Also read: UK extends England entry ban to travellers from Mozambique, 10 other African countries for COVID variant

The South African COVID-19 variant was discovered in December 2020 by a team of researchers from the neighbouring country. The variant affects younger patients and is associated with more severe cases of the disease. It has already been detected in several countries.

Also read: Mozambique: Samples sent to South Africa and UK for verification of new Covid-19 variant

By Emildo Sambo

Source: O País