Mutant Coronavirus Strain: India reports 6 cases of new UK strain

After the UK reported cases of a new mutant coronavirus strain, the Central government has confirmed that 6 UK returnees have tested positive for a new UK strain in India.

The Union Health Ministry stated that samples of 3 UK returnees have been tested and found positive for new mutant coronavirus strain, which was found in the UK, in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, two in Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, and one in National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Also Read | COVID positive UK returnees went to 9 states, including Punjab

Meanwhile, all 6 people have been kept in single room isolation, the health ministry stated. With this, India has joined the list of countries that reported the UK strain.

The Health Ministry also stated that "Between November 25 and December 23, about 33,000 passengers disembarked at various Indian airports from the UK.

Also Read | After UK, Australia detects two cases of new mutant coronavirus strain

"All these passengers are being tracked & subjected by states/UTs to RT-PCR tests. So far only 114 have been found positive for COVID-19," it added.

Coronavirus in India

India reported 16,432 new COVID-19 cases, 24,900 recoveries, and 252 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry. The total cases has increased to 1,02,24,303 while Active cases 2,68,581, total recoveries 98,07,569 and the death toll 1,48,153.

-PTC News