The United Kingdom has detected a new variant of the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus in contacts of people who entered the country from South Africa, British Health Minister Matt Hancock was quoted as saying by Reuters .

The South African Ministry of Health announced last week that a new genetic mutation in the virus had been discovered there, which could be responsible for the recent increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19 in the country.

"Due to the impressive genomic capacity of South Africans, we have detected two cases of infection with another new variant of coronavirus in the UK," said Hancock.

"Both are contacts of positive cases that have come from South Africa in recent weeks," he said.

Britain is already struggling to limit the spread of a mutant strain of the virus , which is up to 70% more communicable, and Hancock said the new variant from South Africa appears to be even more contagious.

Direct contacts of people infected with the new variant were placed in quarantine. Also, all people who have been in South Africa in the last two weeks must go into solitary confinement.

Hancock also said that immediate restrictions are imposed on travel in South Africa.

Editor: Monica Bonea