British virus variant accounts for almost 40% of cases in Poland: health minister

The more contagious so-called British variant of the coronavirus now accounts for close to 40 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Poland, according to Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.

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"By far the main factor responsible for such a rapid development of the pandemic is the spread of the British mutation," Niedzielski said on Thursday evening.

He added research indicated that at the beginning of January, the British variant constituted 5 percent of cases in Poland, rising to 10 percent at the end of January, and to 25 percent at the end of February.

Now the figure was approaching 40 percent, he said.

Poland on Thursday reported 21,045 new coronavirus infections, the highest tally since November.

Niedzielski on Thursday announced a partial lockdown in two additional provinces from March 15 amid a surge in the epidemic.

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP