The Greek authorities have confirmed that a mutation of the new coronavirus in South Africa has been detected in the country for the first time, prompting senior health officials to fly to the area where the virus was found to attend Sunday’s meeting.

The minister leading the government’s response to the pandemic and the head of the national public health agency met with doctors and the local bishop in the northern city of Thessaloniki. 

This variant is considered to be more contagious than the original variant and was found in a 36-year-old deacon on the outskirts of the city. 

Panagiotis Arkoumaneas, head of the National Public Health Organization, said: “We will conduct screenings to isolate people who have been in contact with patients.” 

Authorities said on Sunday that 173 cases of infected people were also found in the UK for the first time.