‘British’ strain of coronavirus not recorded in Ukraine – Liashko

No cases of the British strain of coronavirus have been recorded in Ukraine, Deputy Health Minister, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Liashko has said.

"We are monitoring the situation. This issue must be confirmed or denied by the World Health Organization (WHO). We are sending 200 new virus isolates to a WHO laboratory, which is located at the Charite Clinic in Germany. This strain has not yet been identified in Ukraine," Liashko said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

As reported, a new variant of the coronavirus was identified in the United Kingdom in December 2020. British authorities said the virus is 70% more contagious and spreads more quickly than previous strains.

According to the WHO, the new coronavirus variant, known as B.1.1.7 or VOC 202012/01, has so far been detected in at least 50 countries, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

ish