Woman in Chile diagnosed with UK COVID-19 variant

A Chilean woman who had been to London has tested positive in Chile for the new variant of the coronavirus circulating in Britain, Chilean Health Undersecretary Paula Daza reported on Tuesday. Daza said the woman had been in Britain and arrived in Chile on a commercial Iberia airline flight from Madrid on 22 December. She then boarded a local airline the following day and traveled to Temuco, 700 kilometers south of the capital, Santiago.

The woman, who has not been identified, was admitted to a hospital in her commune, as were her close contacts. Chile suspended direct flights with Britain and barred the entry of foreigners who had been in Britain following the emergence of the virus variant, but the woman was able to enter as she arrived via Spain. Daza asked passengers to self-isolate and contact a health centre to be tested. The Ministry of Health is now locating passengers on her flight from Santiago to Temuco, authorities said on Twitter. Chile has ordered that all Chileans and foreigners entering the country must quarantine themselves for 10 days from 31 December.