Coronavirus new strain: Indian states on alert after UK returnees test positive for COVID-19

By Team Newsable | First Published Dec 22, 2020, 2:59 PM IST

With the emergence of a new mutant coronavirus strain in the UK, the samples of the passenger have now been sent to NIV Pune to identify the strain of the virus.

New Delhi: Amid rising concerns over the new, highly-infectious strain of coronavirus that has emerged in the United Kingdom, airports in India have been put on alert and passengers arriving from Britain on direct or transit flights are being made to undergo RT-PCR Covid-19 tests.

Delhi: In the first scare, five flyers and crew members who landed at the Delhi airport from the United Kingdom on Monday night have tested positive for coronavirus.

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Chennai: A passenger who arrived at the Chennai Domestic Airport from the United Kingdom via Delhi has tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday. J Radhakrishnan, Principal Secretary (Health) confirmed the news and said the state need not worry as the government has taken enough measures to ensure the second wave does not strike.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government has decided to trace all the passengers who had arrived in Bengaluru and Mangaluru from the UK from December 7. The passengers who may show positive symptoms shall be isolated for 14 days and samples should be sent to NIMHANS, Bengaluru for molecular testing.

India on Monday banned all flights from the United Kingdom till December 31. The suspension will come into effect from 11.59 pm on December 22.

Passengers from the United Kingdom would have to undergo RT-PCR test at the Delhi airport in view of the new strain of Covid.

The airport authority has not left any leaf unturned to ensure the safety of 470 plus passengers travelling in these flights. GMR DIAL has arranged a separate waiting lounge so that there is no scope of transmission left.

The passengers who came from the second of the two scheduled flights are currently being tested.

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