UK COVID strain found in Adelaide medi-hotel, as two new unrelated cases reported in SA

The new coronavirus variant from England has been detected in a quarantined traveller in Adelaide, while the state has recorded two new cases.

A mutant strain of COVID-19 that locked down swathes of England, including London, has been detected in South Australia.

The variant was found in a previously reported case, who has since been transferred from a medi-hotel to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment. The patient is in a stable condition.

Genomic testing on Sunday revealed the person was carrying a variant of COVID-19 that emerged in southeast England, SA Health said in a statement.

Some officials believe the variant could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible, but it is not considered to be more deadly.

“There is no evidence that this variant of the virus causes more severe disease,” the SA Health statement said.

Due to privacy reasons, an SA Health spokeswoman could not reveal which SA case had the UK strain.

The variant, referred to by some experts as the B117 lineage, was first recognised in Kent on September 20.

COVID-19 cases soared in the country following its discovery and caused Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose tighter restrictions.

It has since spread to countries across the globe, including Sweden, Spain, Canada, Singapore, Japan and others. Many countries have banned travellers from the UK altogether.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee said last week there were no concerns for this variant in Australia.

“Since March 28, all international travelers arriving in Australia have been required to undergo government mandated 14 day quarantine,” a statement said.

“AHPPC recognises that this significantly decreases the risk of this virus variant entering the Australian community.”

Last week, the New South Wales Government said health authorities found two returned travellers carrying the UK strain – but it was not detected in the recent Avalon cluster, which was of United States origin. Two B117 lineage cases were found in Victoria.

Also on Sunday, SA Health announced two new, unrelated positive cases. One was a female and the other a male, both in their 30s, who recently returned from overseas.

They have been in a medi-hotel since their arrival.

The female case was an old infection, but it was added to the overall numbers, as it is the first time she returned a positive result.

Meanwhile, the man was transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a stable condition.

It brings SA’s total COVID-19 cases to date to 571.

More than 3000 tests were done on Saturday.