ARCHIVED - 168 confirmed cases of the British variant of Covid in Murcia
An estimated 30 per cent of all cases in the Region are accounted for by the British strain
Forecasts that the British variant of Covid-19 would become the predominant strain in Spain during March appear to be becoming vindicated as the month progresses, and in Murcia the regional Health minister, Juan José Pedreño, reports that the B.1.1.7 mutation of the virus now accounts for approximately 30 per cent of new infections.
A total of 168 cases of the British or Kent variant have now been detected in the Region, although it has to be said that the number of cases subjected to genome analysis is low (the Spanish Health Ministry is trying to reach a target of 5% of all PCR positives being genome sequenced but at the moment is way short of this target) and there could be a lot more. So far, 425 samples have been sent to Madrid for testing and 277 have been analysed, with the results illustrating the spread of the British strain but no cases so far of the South African or Brazilian variants.
This doubles the quantity of known cases since last week.
Sr Pedreño also expressed confidence that the kinds of restriction on socializing and travel which have proved effective in combating the third wave of pandemic infection are equally useful in slowing the spread of the British variant.
According to Fernando Simón, the Director of Spain’s Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies, the prevalence of the British variant ranges from under 10 per cent of all cases in some regions to over 70 per cent in others.