The coronavirus was spreading in Europe as early as December, scientists have claimed. New test results at a French hospital show it treated a man with Covid-19 on December 27, according to news outlet BFM TV.
This was almost one month before the French government confirmed its first cases. Head of resuscitation at the Avicenne and Jean Verdier hospitals, Yves Cohen, said: "Of the 24, we had one who was positive for Covid-19 on December 27." Initially, they had been collected to detect flu, but they can also detect the coronavirus.
Mr Cohen added each sample was tested several times to ensure no errors were made. And he is now calling for other negative test samples from this time period to be reviewed.