France confirms first case of coronavirus variant

People wearing face masks walk near the Eiffel Tower in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

French health authorities have confirmed the country’s first case of the virus variant that prompted strict new lockdown measures in Britain and global travel restrictions.

A French man living in England arrived in France on December 19 and tested positive for the new variant on Friday, the French public health agency said. He had no symptoms and was isolating in his home in the central city of Tours.