A New COVID-19 Virus Variant That Doesn't Show Up On Tests Is Being Investigated In France

Several patients with the variant had negative COVID-19 tests.
COVID-19 Variant From France Doesn't Show Up On Tests
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An investigation is underway following the emergence of a new COVID-19 virus variant in France, said health authorities in Brittany. 

Eight cases of the new COVID-19 virus variant have been detected, though each of the individuals tested negative on their nasal swab tests. 

Editor's Choice: Canadians Have Received 3 Million Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccines & This Map Shows Where

The variant can be confirmed through a blood test or a "deep respiratory" sample, said a news release from the local health authority. 

This COVID-19 virus variant may not have increased severity or transmissibility, but an investigation is ongoing to learn more about it and determine how it reacts to COVID-19 vaccines. 

These eight cases are part of a cluster of 79 cases reported on March 13. 

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GlobalNews
  • Britanny Burr
    Britanny Burr was a Staff Writer at Narcity Canada, who drove growth within Narcity's Western coverage and readership. Having lived between her hometown, Canmore, Alberta and Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, and NYC over the past 10 years, she is obsessed with finding the best local hot spots. She holds a B.A. in English and has over six years of professional writing experience as Head Writer and Editor for YUL.Buzz in Montreal, and Creative Copywriter at JAKT in NYC. News by day, poetry by night — the written word is Britanny's nearest and dearest.

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