Two cases of the British variant of the coronavirus confirmed in Lille

Two cases of the British variant of the coronavirus were confirmed in Lille on Sunday.

These two cases, which date from the end of December, are "in the professional medical environment". 

Two cases of the British variant of the coronavirus were confirmed in Lille on Sunday by resorting to sequencing, announced the ARS of Hauts-de-France on Monday during the launch of the testing campaign organized in Roubaix, one of the objectives of which is to take stock of the presence of this variant.

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These two cases, which date from the end of December, are located "in Lille, in the medical professional environment", and are "closed in terms of epidemiological monitoring", explained to the press the Director General of the Hauts-de-France Regional Health Agency (ARS) Benoît Vallet.

For another potential case, in "a truck driver who was returning from England and was screened on leaving the United Kingdom", the sequencing results are not yet known, added Benoît Vallet.

"We will undoubtedly have in the coming days other confirmations to make or not to make", he estimated.

A massive test campaign in Roubaix 

During the six days of the massive testing campaign organized in Roubaix which kicked off on Monday, all positive samples will first be sent to the Lille University Hospital "for a first screening which will give a result within the day "then at CEA in Evry for sequencing.

With six rooms open for six days, this testing campaign has the capacity to subject 30,000 people to a double test - PCR and antigen.

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"It will be a large-scale operation and, I believe, which will mark a milestone in the epidemiological analysis and the fight against the spread of this virus", assured the Secretary of State in charge of Pensions and Occupational Health Laurent Pietraszewski , by visiting one of the six centers.

"It will make it possible to have a precise study on what is the diffusion or not of the English variant on our territory and to have a look at the different tests which are proposed to us", he declared.