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Peru reports first case of COVID-19 variant found in UK

Photo: ANDINA/Ministry of Health of Peru

11:49 | Lima, Jan. 8.

The Government of Peru on Friday reported the first case of the coronavirus variant initially found in the United Kingdom, which —although not more lethal— has a greater capacity to be transmitted.

According to Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti, it was found in a Peruvian citizen, who resides in the capital city Lima and had attended a family reunion days before Christmas.

"The lady had symptoms, and her sample was sequenced as part of the epidemiological surveillance; thus, it was found that she has the mutation which is circulating in Europe," Dr. Mazzetti expressed.

"The research is being conducted on the citizens who had attended the same meeting, and we are also detecting some positive cases," she added.

Faced with this situation, the government official urged the Peruvian people to continue complying with the measures to prevent COVID-19 contagion because "there are no magic pills or self-medication."

"The most important thing is to avoid getting infected; that is why every one of us must wear a face mask properly. Besides, if we touch any objects but do not disinfect our hands, we will be facing risks; and if we leave home unnecessarily and go to crowded places for a long time, we will be exposing ourselves to the risk," she warned.

The Cabinet member warned that in the last 10 days Peru has witnessed a "slow but progressive" increase in mortality cases, although there is still no case curve similar to the one observed at the beginning of the pandemic.

"That is why we must maximize the measures; our behavior is the most important thing. This is a threat that must be taken seriously. We must take care of ourselves more than at any other time (…)," she concluded.

Details were provided in a press conference also attended by Deputy Health Minister Luis Suarez, as well as PAHO/WHO Representative in Peru Carlos Roberto Garzon.

?? Autoridades del Ministerio de Salud informan sobre la evolución de la pandemia por la COVID-19 en el país. En vivo: https://t.co/3sr1Ne2JNu pic.twitter.com/NjAlDkCSo8
— Ministerio de Salud (@Minsa_Peru) January 8, 2021

(END) MVB

Published: 1/8/2021

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Peru reports first case of COVID-19 variant found in UK

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