First cases of ‘SA variant’ detected
PANAMA has registered its first case of a COVID-19 variant matching a strain of the virus detected in South Africa, the Central American country's health ministry has announced. The variant was detected in a 40-year-old native of Zimbabwe who entered Panama on January 5 from South Africa. The person did not show symptoms and has been isolated, the ministry said in a statement. Portugal has also reported its first case of the South African coronavirus variant. Health institute official Ricardo Jorge told Lusa news agency: "We are undergoing due process to rapidly test and interrupt this potential chain of transmission." …