Air India directs crew to remain isolated at layovers amid concerns over new COVID strain

Air India has directed its crew members to remain isolated in their allocated rooms for the complete duration of stay during layovers at all domestic and international stations due to concerns over the new strain of COVID-19. Earlier, on December 21, an Air India official had said that “no decision has been made” regarding the flights from the foreign nations. 

READ | New COVID-19 Strain: Everything About The New Variant Of Coronavirus Spreading Rapidly

Pilots and cabin crew asked to remain isolated during the layovers

A per a circular which is addressed to all their pilots and cabin crew, the airline said that keeping the health risks into consideration, crew laying over at all domestic and international stations are strictly directed to remain isolated.

"As Britain battles a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus, there is disturbing news of the new mutated strain being up to 70 percent more contagious, as per some sources. South-East England and the city of London have been put under a strict 'stay-at-home' order as the virus spread has been termed to be 'out of control' and the situation declared to be 'alarming'," the circular read. 

READ | 'No One Should Worry': COVID-19 Not Evolved Enough To Beat Vaccines, Assure Scientists

India bans all flights from the UK 

The Civil aviation ministry has issued a circular stating that all passengers arriving from the UK on Monday and Tuesday will have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR test at airports in India, moments after the ministry banned all flights arriving from the United Kingdom from December 22, taking pre-emptive measures against the new Coronavirus.

The circular stated, "As a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from the UK in all transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights which are reaching India before 22nd Dec at 11.59 pm) should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at airports."

READ | India Bans All Flights From UK Till December 31, Amid Concerns Over 'new COVID-19 Strain'

On December 20, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson informed the public that a new variant of COVID-19 has been found in the United Kingdom announced 'Tier 4' restrictions in several cities for precautions from the potential risks of the new variant of the virus poses. 

READ | India's COVID-19 Management Examined By Parliamentary Panel; Here Are Key Recommendations

(With ANI Inputs)