The British government had recently announced that the newly identified strain of the COVID-19 virus found in their population is up to 70 per cent more contagious. This had prompted the Indian authorities to suspend flights to and from the UK till December 31.
Prior to this, the government found that about 33,000 passengers had disembarked at various Indian airports from the UK from November 25 to December 23 midnight. All these passengers were tracked and subjected by the states and UTs to the RT-PCR tests. And 114 have been found positive so far. These positive samples were then sent to 10 labs after this.
6 were found to contain that mutated strain of the COVID-19 virus out of these samples.
National Task Force examined the issue at length
🔸Existing treatment & testing protocols along with genomic surveillance found effective
🔹33,000 passengers from UK are being traced & tested
🔸6 found positive with new UK variant genome
🔹Comprehensive contact tracing initiated pic.twitter.com/PO9JyXzjBF— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) December 29, 2020
The samples of six UK returnees in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune are found to be positive with the new variant genome, the central government said on Tuesday, adding that they have been kept in a single-room-isolation in designated healthcare facilities.
Infected Patient In Isolation
“A total of six samples of six UK returnee persons are found to be positive with the new UK variant genome. Three in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, two in CCMB, Hyderabad and one in NIV, Pune. All these persons have been kept in single room isolation in designated Healthcare facilities by the respective state governments. Their close contacts have also been quarantined,” the health ministry said.
Extensive Contact Tracing Going On
Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is going on. The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the states for enhanced observation, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to the INSACOG labs, the ministry added.
New Variant Already Present In Many Countries
It is important to notice that the presence of the new UK Variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore.
While few days back, the Indian government had taken cognizance of the reports of mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus reported from the UK and put in place a practical and preventive strategy to detect and contain the mutant variant. It included temporary suspension of all flights coming from The United Kingdom with effect from the midnight of December 23 till 31.
India Taking All Measures To Tackle Mutant Strain Of COVID-19
Testing of all UK returnee air passengers through RT-PCR test was made mandatory. The samples of all UK returnees found positive in RT-PCR test to be genome sequenced by a consortium of ten government labs. The strategy also included a gathering of the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 on December 26 to think about and recommend Testing, Treatment, Surveillance and Containment Strategy. Standard Operating Protocol for states and UTs to tackle the mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 were also issued on December 22.
