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Rare Covid strain detected close to Swiss border

Tuesday, 9 March 2021 06:17

A rare coronavirus variant has been detected in an Italian village just 15 km from the Swiss border.

Authorities are concerned as infections are climbing rapidly in Italy – the government is considering a three-week lockdown in Rome in an effort to stem the rates.

Italy is second to the UK for the worst death rate from the virus in Europe, it now stands at 100,000. The UK is at 124,000. 

The strain found close to the border has only been detected once before in Thailand. It’s thought the infected person had recently arrived from Egypt. 

In the last 3 days in Switzerland, there have been 2,744 new infections and 16 deaths. 

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