In India, 6 cases of a mutant strain of coronavirus infection have been detected, which had first surfaced in the UK. The new strain is supposed to be 70 percent more infectious, however doctors said that there is no reason so far to believe that it is more deadly or won’t be controlled by a vaccine. All the six patients have returned from the UK recently, where the cases have spread within days.

Three of the patients are kept in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, the other two in Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology in Hyderabad and one patient in National Institute of Virology at Pune. All patients are kept in "single room isolation" in chosen healthcare facilities by the state governments. Their close contacts are also put under strict quarantine. Comprehensive contact tracing is started for co-travellers along with their families and others.

Between November 25 and December 23, around 33,000 passengers had arrived from the UK. 114 were tested positive for COVID-19. Genome sequencing for other specimens is ongoing, as per the government. The states are tracing passengers and their contacts for RT-PCR tests.

The UK strain of coronavirus has surfaced at a time in India where the spread of the infection has slowed down after hitting a major peak in September. In the last 24 hours, India reported 16,432 cases, the lowest since 24th June, when 15,968 cases were reported. The total coronavirus count is 1,02,24,303, the highest after the US.

The government released theparticulars of the genomic surveillance consortium, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), which formed to identify the presence of different strains of coronavirus in India. Ten laboratories across the country are carrying out genome sequencing.

In addition to UK returnees, 5 percent samples of COVID-19 positive people in the country since 23rd November will be sent for genome sequencing. The government said that the samples should have proper illustration chiefly from the metro cities where there is a high possibility of having the new SARS-CoV-2 variant. Regular monitoring will assist in understanding the development of the virus, its effect regarding transmission and in developing the potential vaccines in the future.

On 21st December, India had temporarily banned flights from the UK and extended it to the Vande Bharat flights. The concern was to stay in place till 31st December. Mumbai, which is the worst hit city by coronavirus had announced a night curfew. The 20th December, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had announced the appearance of the new strain of coronavirus. The strain was described as out of control by British health secretary Matt Hancock. It was first detected in southeast England in September and then swiftly became the dominant strain in London along with the other parts of the UK.

Until now, several nations including Denmark, Australia, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Lebanon have reported about the detection of the UK strain.

Source: NDTV