People masked due to the Covid-19 epidemic walk under the shade of the Old Port of Marseille -

LOUAI-BARAKAT / SIPA

  • A cluster linked to the British variant of Covid-19 has been detected in Marseille.

  • So far, eight cases of people with this variant have been detected, and 23 positive cases for Covid-19.

  • The authorities have stepped up the tests to try to contain the epidemic.

The alert was given to the mayor of Marseille by the Ministry of Health this Saturday at the end of the afternoon.

An “extended family cluster” linked to the variant of Covid-19 said to be of British origin, which is particularly contagious, has been detected in the second largest city in France.

According to statements from the first assistant of Marseille in charge in particular of health, Michèle Rubirola, who was able to speak with Professor Didier Raoult, in charge of detecting this mutant virus in the patients concerned, eight positive cases for the British variant have have already been identified by the IHU in Marseille, from this same cluster.

The first person to contract this variant was tested on December 31.

"This person is part of a French family of five, residing in the United Kingdom and having stayed in France during the end of year holidays," writes the ARS in a press release.

"When the person arrived from England, the person had a negative test," says the socialist mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan.

She was in the incubation period.

She did not know when she arrived that she was a carrier of the virus.

"

Fighting commotion

However, throughout his stay, this person, particularly on the occasion of family celebrations, met many people, in small groups, according to our information.

In total, no less than 45 contact cases have already been identified by the ARS.

However, out of these 45 individuals, 23 have tested positive for Covid-19.

And tests continue to be carried out to find out if these are cases linked to the British mutant virus.

Faced with an epidemic that is growing at an exponential speed, the authorities have sounded the action to be taken in Marseille.

"From now on, every minute counts to stem the spread of the English strain", alarms Benoît Payan who announces the establishment of a new device.

"A team of 40 marine firefighters was mobilized" on Saturday evening, according to the city council.

This Sunday morning, "our teams went to test the first five addresses, surface tests were carried out", adds the socialist.

One of these buildings “revealed traces of Covid” in the common areas, according to Benoît Payan.

Also, according to the mayor, “as a precaution we performed tests on the 30 residents of the building.

The results are in progress but two people from the building are positive for Covid-19 and have been asked to isolate themselves ”.

For two other buildings, the marine firefighters did not find any trace of Covid-19 in the common areas but their wastewater will be the subject of special vigilance.

"A hunt for the virus in the four corners of the city"

"We are ready to begin a hunt for the virus in the four corners of the city," says one on the side of the marine firefighters.

We put three cells on alert.

The first, the Comète cell, is made up of experts able to trace the Covid in wastewater.

We have also mobilized two mobile biological intervention cells which are armed to perform rapid PCR tests, the results of which are available in less than twenty minutes, and which we can deploy quickly to test urgently individuals that may be designated to us.

"We are also ready to send decontamination teams if necessary, as well as emergency medical units", specifies Benoît Payan in a press release sent on Saturday evening.

The mayor is also proposing to increase the number of screening tests in schools, and in particular in those located in exposed areas.

According to

La Provence

, these clusters are concentrated in the 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th arrondissements of the city.

Information that Benoît Payan has refused to confirm for the time being.

The latter, however, appealed to the State to accompany it in this hunt for the virus, not without a certain anxiety.

"I hope that the government warned us as soon as it was certain that we were dealing with a mutant virus," says the socialist.

And I ask them one thing.

Control the ports, control the airports.

You must not leave a hole in the racket.

"

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  • Marseilles

  • United Kingdom

  • English

  • Covid 19

  • epidemic

  • Cluster

  • Coronavirus