Coronavirus: British variant ‘could be behind up to a quarter of French cases’
- Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that around 200,000 spit tests a week would initially be used at primary schools
- France has had a strict curfew in place starting at 6pm for the past several weeks, but there are no general restrictions during the day
The more contagious coronavirus variant from Britain is estimated by the French government to be responsible for about 20 to 25 per cent of cases in France, health officials said on Thursday.
In comparison, variants from South Africa and Brazil are behind just 4 to 5 per cent nationwide, Health Minister Olivier Veran said.
The eastern Moselle department has seen an especially high number of cases: In the past four days, about 300 infections traced to the Brazilian and South African variants have been identified there.
Veran is planning to visit the region on Friday.
Prime Minister Jean Castex also announced that after the end of school holidays, around 200,000 spit tests a week would initially be used at primary schools to monitor the spread of the coronavirus.
France has had a strict curfew in place every night starting at 6pm for the past several weeks, but there are no general restrictions during the day. Retail outlets and schools are largely open, though restaurants, cultural institutions and ski lifts are still closed.
Just over 21,000 new cases were reported on Thursday in the past 24 hours. Since the start of the pandemic, over 80,000 people have died.