Of the 16 cases of coronavirus detected among the sailors of a ship moored in Le Havre, two are carriers of a "virus derived from the Indian variant", announced the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Normandy on Wednesday. 

"The virological investigations carried out on the sample of two samples confirm the presence of a virus derived from the Indian variant," said the ARS.

"The results of the sequencing carried out at the request of the ARS of Normandy (...) were transmitted yesterday (Tuesday) by the Pasteur Institute (National Reference Center for respiratory viruses)", specified the ARS.

The crew in quarantine in a hotel 

On April 18, an outbreak of Covid-19 was declared among the 25 crew members of a ship in Le Havre.

Positive cases had been identified while the ship was at sea. The entire crew had been placed in isolation as soon as the signs appeared before their arrival in Le Havre (positive cases and risky contacts) and all of the crew was tracked.

“After their arrival at the dock, the isolation of the 16 confirmed cases continued, in a dedicated hotel, accompanied by strict control, for 15 of them.

This isolation is now over ”, indicates the ARS, specifying that“ a sailor is hospitalized ”.

“The nine other negative crew members, identified as risk contacts, then remained in quarantine on board, without contact with the outside, in order to prepare the ship for relief.

This weekend, and following a specific protocol, these nine sailors also joined the hotel to finish their quarantine ”.

A variant spotted several times in France 

This quarantine to end on Tuesday, "all were tested again before being able to leave: three new cases have been confirmed" which "were immediately placed in isolation and the six other sailors considered to be contacts at risk remain in quarantine. (...) The crew members had and have no contact with the outside world. The situation is currently under control, ”assures the ARS.

"The replacement of this crew will be carried out with 22 sailors who will be screened again after a first negative test", adds the institution.

According to local press reports, the vessel concerned is the Fairway, a Singaporean flagged tanker.

A few cases of the Indian variant have been detected in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and in Bouches-du-Rhône, after two first cases in Guadeloupe.

Spotted in at least 17 countries, the Indian variant is worrying because of the spectacular deterioration of the health situation in India.

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