The new variant of Covid-19 detected in the United Kingdom was discovered in China in a student returning from this country, authorities said.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the new strain was isolated from a 23-year-old woman who returned to Shanghai on December 14 from the UK.
The variant was discovered on December 24 in his test samples.
Beijing announced the same day the suspension of its flights with Great Britain.
This strain is the first of the new variant to be imported into China "and poses a serious threat to the prevention and control of Covid-19" in the country, according to the statement.
As a result, several control measures were taken, in particular the isolation of the patient.
Her contacts have been traced, including passengers and flight personnel who were near her during her plane trip.
"The specific places she passed through are fully disinfected," according to the CDC.
More contagious
The new variant of the coronavirus detected in the UK is 50% to 74% more contagious than other existing strains, according to experts.
Following its appearance, some fifty states have suspended arrivals of travelers from this country in recent weeks.
The British variant has already been found in several countries, such as Canada, the United States, Portugal, France, Jordan, South Korea and Chile.
READ ALSO>
British variant of the coronavirus: five questions on the first case in France
China, where the new coronavirus first appeared a year ago, has since practically stopped the epidemic.
The country closed its borders to most foreign travelers at the end of March and drastically reduced its air links with the rest of the world.