A sixth person in the UK who tested positive for a Brazilian coronavirus “variant of concern” has been found.
The COVID-19 variant, first seen in the city of Manaus, is thought to spread more rapidly than the original virus and to be more capable of evading existing vaccines.
In total, six cases of the P1 coronavirus variant have been confirmed – three in England and three in Scotland.
All five of the previously identified cases are linked to travel from Brazil to the UK.
During Friday’s Downing Street briefing, health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the mystery person had been tracked down.
“Using the latest technology and with the dogged determination of our Testing and Tracing scheme, we have successfully identified the person in question.
“The best evidence is that this person stayed at home and there is no evidence of onward transmission.
“But as a precaution we are putting more testing in in Croydon where they live to minimise the possibility of spread.”
Two of the six cases were found in South Gloucestershire, with surge testing employed in the area to try and see if there are more people who have the virus.
The three people in Scotland who tested positive for the variant were in the Grampian region in the north of the country.
Research has suggested that the Brazil variant may spread more easily than other examples of the coronavirus.
Manaus, Brazil, was hit by the variant at the start of this year
Mutations to the virus’s spike proteins means that antibodies developed in the human body to fight other variants may not be as effective.
In Manaus, Brazil, almost 70% of the population had immunity from a first wave of COVID-19.
But at the start of this year the variant spread through the Amazonas city, with hospitals reportedly being overwhelmed.