In the wake of the Covid virus mutation found in UK, the central government has taken a slew of measures as a matter of precaution including temporary travel ban on all flights to and from the UK starting from midnight of Wednesday till December 31.
In the wake of the Covid virus mutation found in UK, the central government has taken a slew of measures as a matter of precaution including temporary travel ban on all flights to and from the UK starting from midnight of Wednesday till December 31.
The mutated strain of the novel coronavirus regarded as the "Super spreader" attributes to at least 70 per cent of the cases in the UK. The new strain has sparked concern globally, amid with over 25 countries imposing travel bans to and from UK.
Reaffirming the people in India, VK Paul, a member of government think-tank NITI Aayog, said that the new strain or mutation of (the) coronavirus in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far. Hence, people need not panic yet we need to be vigilant, he added.
"The mutation has enhanced the transmissibility rate of the virus. It is being said that 70 per cent transmissibility rate has increased. We can say that the virus has become super-spreader," Dr Paul said.
He added that there are no reports that the new strain of Covid virus is affecting the severity of the disease, neither the case fatality nor the hospitalization rate. He reaffirmed that the new strain or mutation of coronavirus seen in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far.
Briefing on the action taken up the central government, Dt. Paul, the NITI Aayog official said, "The government is looking into it. We have robust laboratories and we are studying the genetic structure of thousands of viruses. We have not found the mutation of the virus seen in UK. Since people are travelling amid the pandemic and it was found in Australia and some countries in Europe, we have to remain vigilant."
The government has tightened SOPs including mandatory RT-PCR tests for all arrivals and isolation for those testing positive, as well as institutional quarantine for contacts of passengers who test positive. According to the government, "contacts" will include all those within three rows of the infected passenger.
Eight passengers who arrived last night on two separate flights from London have tested positive for the virus. And, passengers onboard of British Airways flight that landed in Delhi yesterday were tested but found negative.
Last week Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan urged people not to panic over the new UK strain, and said the situation is under control. "At this time, I would say, don't get hassled with imaginary situations, the government is fully alert," he said.
The mutated strain of the novel coronavirus regarded as the "Super spreader" attributes to at least 70 per cent of the cases in the UK. The new strain has sparked concern globally, amid with over 25 countries imposing travel bans to and from UK.
Reaffirming the people in India, VK Paul, a member of government think-tank NITI Aayog, said that the new strain or mutation of (the) coronavirus in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far. Hence, people need not panic yet we need to be vigilant, he added.
"The mutation has enhanced the transmissibility rate of the virus. It is being said that 70 per cent transmissibility rate has increased. We can say that the virus has become super-spreader," Dr Paul said.
He added that there are no reports that the new strain of Covid virus is affecting the severity of the disease, neither the case fatality nor the hospitalization rate. He reaffirmed that the new strain or mutation of coronavirus seen in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far.
Briefing on the action taken up the central government, Dt. Paul, the NITI Aayog official said, "The government is looking into it. We have robust laboratories and we are studying the genetic structure of thousands of viruses. We have not found the mutation of the virus seen in UK. Since people are travelling amid the pandemic and it was found in Australia and some countries in Europe, we have to remain vigilant."
The government has tightened SOPs including mandatory RT-PCR tests for all arrivals and isolation for those testing positive, as well as institutional quarantine for contacts of passengers who test positive. According to the government, "contacts" will include all those within three rows of the infected passenger.
Eight passengers who arrived last night on two separate flights from London have tested positive for the virus. And, passengers onboard of British Airways flight that landed in Delhi yesterday were tested but found negative.
Last week Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan urged people not to panic over the new UK strain, and said the situation is under control. "At this time, I would say, don't get hassled with imaginary situations, the government is fully alert," he said.