Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Friday confirmed that a total of 82 persons were found with the new mutant variant of coronavirus so far.
The ministry said in a statement that, “The total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel coronavirus, first reported in the UK, now stands at 82.”
The airport officials informed, the first flight carrying 256 passengers arrived in Delhi today from London. The restriction on flights to the UK was lifted on January 6.
Flights from the United Kingdom recommenced today in a limited capacity amid the concerns about the new strain of the coronavirus that was recently detected in the UK.
However, thirty flights will operate each week – 15 each by Indian and UK carriers. This schedule will continue till January 23, the Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had informed earlier.
Domestic civil aviation operations continue to hold steady & move towards Pre-COVID numbers.
2,21,340 passengers travelled on 2172 flights on 7 Jan 2021. Our airports witnessed total footfalls of 4,40,871 & 4334 flight movements.
Indians are flying with confidence. pic.twitter.com/8BB7fgrzms
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 8, 2021
Passengers will have to take an RT-PCR test up to 72 hours before a flight and on arrival.
A total of 4,858 people have been traced who travelled between India and the UK after the cases of infection by new variant came to light, the special surveillance report issued on Thursday by the central government stated.
Meanwhile, India has reported 18,139 new COVID-19 cases, 20,539 recoveries and 234 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,04,13,417 on Friday, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
While 1,00,37,398 people have recovered from the novel coronavirus so far, 1,50,570 persons have succumbed to the deadly virus in the country.
There are 2,25,449 active coronavirus cases in India, as per the Union Health Ministry.