Karnataka under new COVID-19 strain scare from UK after 138 passengers land without tests

By Team Newsable | First Published Dec 22, 2020, 1:19 PM IST

After the UK government announced the new coronavirus strain and banned flight operations, Karnataka felt the ripple effect after 138 passengers landed without Covid negative certificates and necessary tests at the airport.

After the announcement of banning international flights in the UK post the surge of new Covid strain, Karnataka Health Department issued a new circular as 138 passengers have arrived without passing RT-PCR test and failed to provide Covid-19 Negative certificate.

As per reports, a British Airways flight carrying 291 passengers arrived on Sunday, 49 passengers traveled without the Covid-19 Negative certificate nor underwent RT-PCR test that detects variation in body temperature.

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Indian flight Air India with 246 passengers also reported such passengers without providing Covid-19 Negative certificate and failed to get RT-PCR test at Airport.
The department has traced 89 such passengers.

Following the development, the Karnataka Health Department has issued a circular to both Mangaluru and Bengaluru International Airport to provide details of passengers who arrived from the UK since December 7. The passengers are said to be asymptomatic but will still be subjected to RT-PCR test for safety purposes.

Soon after discussing with health minister K Sudhakar, Additional Health Secretary, Jawaid Akhtar made it mandatory for passengers to undergo RT-PCR test on arrival from the UK.

The passengers who may show positive symptoms shall be isolated for 14 days and samples should be sent to NIMHANS, Bengaluru for molecular testing.

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