6 mutated Covid-19 cases from UK detected in India; put under isolation & contact-traced

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its release on Tuesday said that a total of 6 samples of UK returnees have been found to be positive for new mutant UK COVID-19 strain that is believed to be more infectious. Out of se 6 positive Coronavirus cases, 3 samples were detected in NIMHANS Bengaluru, 2 in CCMB Hyderab and 1 in NIV Pune. Health Ministry furr said that government has taken cognizance of reports of new virus strain and has put in place a "pro-active and preventive" strategy to detect and contain spre of virus.

Health Ministry said, "All se persons have been kept in single room isolation in designated health care facilities by respective state governments. ir close contacts have also been put under quarantine. Comprehensive contract tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and ors. Geme sequencing on or specimens is going on."

Besides India, new UK Coronavirus variant has alrey been reported by Denmark, Nerlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Cana, Japan, Leban and Singapore. 6 new strain-infections are out of 114 positive cases from 33,000 returnees from UK since v 25. India suspended flights from UK on December 23.

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MHA extends Coronavirus guidelines till Jan 31

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday extended existing COVID control guidelines till January 31, 2021. While ting that re has been a continuous decline in active cases in India, MHA said, "re is need to maintain surveillance, containment and caution, keeping in view surge in cases globally, and emergence of a new variant of virus in United Kingdom (UK)," Ministry of Home Affairs stated."

"Accordingly, containment zones continue to be demarcated carefully; prescribed containment measures strictly followed within se zones; Covid-appropriate behaviour promoted and strictly enforced, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed in respect of various permitted activities followed scrupulously," Ministry said. 

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Emphasising need to enforce a focussed approach ton surveillance and containment and a strict observance of guidelines and SOPs issued by it and Health Ministry, MHA said that states and UTs can impose local restrictions like night curfew to check spre of Coronavirus but also me it clear that y will have to consult  Centre before imposing a lockdown outside containment zones.

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COVID-19 outbreak in India

As world continues to battle against Coronavirus pandemic, India so far has recorded over 1,02,07,871 positive cases, out of which 97,82,669 have successfully recovered while 1,47,901 have died. According to latest updates from MoHFW, in past 24 hours, 20,021 new cases, 21,131 fresh recoveries and 279 deaths have been reported. Currently, total number of active COVID-19 cases in country is 2,77,301. 

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