UK Detects 77 Cases of South African COVID Variant, 9 of Brazilian Strain

UK Detects 77 Cases of South African COVID Variant, 9 of Brazilian Strain
A passenger wearing a Union Jack face mask waits to board one of the few flights departing at Gatwick Airport in London on Nov. 27, 2020. Leon Neal/Getty Images
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LONDON—Britain has detected 77 cases of the South African variant of COVID-19, the health minister said on Sunday, also urging people to strictly follow lockdown rules as the best precaution against Britain’s own potentially more deadly variant.

Matt Hancock said all 77 cases were connected to travel from South Africa and were under close observation, as were nine identified cases of a Brazilian variant.