The SARS-CoV-2 mutation was detected in 214 people in Denmark

Of those infected, 14 have been identified outside the North Jutland region, where the Danish government has announced the imposition of movement restrictions and after deciding to cull some 17 million mink.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutation found in mink in Denmark was detected in 214 infected people in the country, according to the latest data published by the Statens Serum Institut, the Danish referral center for infectious diseases.

Of the infected, 14 were identified outside the North Jutland region, where the Danish government announced on Thursday that it would impose traffic restrictions and decided to shoot down some 17 million mink.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement that the citizens of that region will not be able to leave their municipalities for the next four weeks.

Furthermore, during this period the hotel sector in the region will be closed and all cultural and sporting events will be suspended. The schools will remain open.

“Infection among mink farms is increasing in number and geographic extent, without preventive measures having worked,” admitted the Statens Serum Institut.

“New mink variants of covid-19 have been observed, showing reduced sensitivity to antibodies from various people with a history of infection. This is serious as it could mean that a future covid-19 vaccine will be less effective against infection. . for these variants “, the Danish institute warned.

He adds that the infections have been detected among people working on mink farms but also among the local population.

The institute adds that five variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in mink and that one of them “shows less susceptibility to antibodies than more individuals with past infections than the unmutated virus.”

This variant, states the Statens Serum Institut, was specifically found in five mink farms and in twelve human infection samples during August and September.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday it was in contact with the Danish authorities to keep abreast of these events.

For its part, the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture confirmed, also this Thursday, an outbreak of coronavirus among minks in the Blekinge region (south) affecting ten farms.

After learning of the situation in Denmark on Friday, the British government announced it had removed Denmark from its list of safe air corridors.

Travelers from Denmark will be required to maintain a 14 day quarantine from 3:00 GMT on arrival in the UK.