The country confirmed six cases of a Covid-19 mutant strain on Tuesday, which is 70 percent more contagious and was first reported a few days back in the United Kingdom.
Recently, all six patients have returned from the UK. Of all the samples tested, 3 samples were identified in NIMHANS of Bengaluru, 2 in CCMB, Hyderabad, and 1 in NIV, Pune, as per a government release.
The Central Government has adopted a pro-active and preventive strategy to identify and contain the mutant form after taking cognizance of the reports of the new Covid-19 strain being detected in the region.
“In a statement, the government said, “The situation is under careful surveillance and the states are given daily advice for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing, and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs.
The six infected individuals have been held in single-room isolation by the respective state governments of the country in designated health care facilities. Infected persons’ close contacts have also been put under quarantine.
Meanwhile, for their co-travelers, relatives, etc., the government is doing a detailed touch tracing exercise.
The new coronavirus strain first detected in the UK has also been reported in Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore, and a few other nations.
A total of 31 UK returnees had tested positive for coronavirus by Monday. To determine if they were contaminated with the mutant strain in the UK, all of their samples were sent for further genome sequencing.