COVID-19: Health Ministry issues SOPs for surveillance, response to variant detected in UK

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Epidemiological Surveillance and Response after emergence of new variant of COVID-19 in UK. new mutant variant of COVID-19, which is said to be 70% more transmissible than previous one, has caused a scare across world with several countries including India shutting down air travel to and from UK.

SOP over new variant of COVID-19

SOPs highlight activities to be undertaken at point of entry and in community for all International passengers who have travelled from or transited through UK in past four weeks i.e. from vember 25 to December 23, 2020.

All passengers travelling from or transiting through airports in UK and disembarking in India during intervening period from 21st to 23rd December 2020 would be subjected to RT-PCR test on arrival.

"All passengers travelling from or transiting through airports in UK and disembarking in India during intervening period from 21st to 23rd December 2020 would be subjected to RT-PCR test on arrival. In case of a positive sample, it is recommended that spike gene-based RT-PCR test should also be performed. Passengers testing positive will be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in a separate (isolation) unit coordinated by respective State Health Authorities. Necessary action to send samples to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune or any or appropriate lab for gemic sequencing will be initiated at facility level," a statement from Health Ministry re.

If gemic sequencing indicates presence of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 n patient will be kept in separate isolation unit and treated as per clinical protocol. Those who are found negative on testing with RT-PCR at airport would be vised quarantine at home. Prior to check-in, traveller will be explained about this SOP and In-flight anuncements must also be me,"  statement re furr.

International travellers from UK who arrived in India since last one month will be contacted by District Surveillance Officers and monitored in community, statement ded. 

SOP by health ministry includes actions to be taken at International Airports, Bureau of Immigration and surveillance by State Governments/ Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.

World reacts to mutant COVID-19

Civil Aviation Ministry suspended flights to and from UK starting from Tuesday 11.59 pm to December 31 11.50 pm as a preemptive action against entry and spre of mutant Coronavirus in India. About 40 countries including India have suspended air travel to UK in wake of new variant of virus. European Union nations including France, Italy and Germany have halted flights from UK, followed by Cana, Israel, Iran Nerlands. However, France has eased travel ban after  European Commission urged member states to lift ban on travel to UK.

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new variant has caused a second wave of COVID-19 in South Africa as nearly 90% of samples tested in country contain new strain.

new strain of Coronavirus is more dominating than previous one, according to experts.  British government’s chief scientific viser Patrick Vallance reportedly said that strain “moves fast and is becoming dominant variant” causing over 70% of infections in country. This variant is estimated by European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) to be more transmissible and affecting younger population.

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