Health Ministry issues SOPs in view of new mutant coronavirus detected in UK

New Mutant Coronavirus Strain: Union Health Ministry on Tuesday issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for epidemiological surveillance and response in the context of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus which was detected in the United Kingdom. The Health Ministry in its SOPs regarding the new mutant coronavirus strain stated that "Those international travellers from the UK who arrived in India from November 25 to December 8, 2020 (1st and 2nd week from November 25) will be contacted by the District Surveillance Officers and advised to self-monitor their health." Also Read | India suspends flights from UK over mutant Coronavirus strain "The State governments shall ensure that passengers travelling from or transiting through airports in the UK and disembarking in India would be subjected to RT-PCR test on arrival," it said. "In the case of a positive sample, spike gene-based RT-PCR test should also be performed," Health Ministry said. Also Read | After UK, Australia detects two cases of new mutant coronavirus strain Meanwhile, Air India said that "In view of Indian govt's directive on the suspension of flights to the UK, from December 22-31, Oman and Saudi Arabia both from December 22-29, Air India is offering passengers booked to travel during the period one-time free reschedule for travel completed within 31st Dec '21." It also stated that all penalties for one-time rescheduling, cancellation, the rerouting will be waived for bookings between December 22-31, 2020. The new strain of the virus has forced several countries to close the borders with the UK while several nations have imposed travel restrictions for a while. -PTC News

Join Whatsapp Channel