On Friday, the health ministry said that the number of people tested positive for the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 has reached 82 in India. The number of these people was at 73 till 6th January.

The ministry said that people who tested positive for this new variant of the coronavirus were kept in single-room isolation at selected healthcare facilities by their respective state governments.

The close contacts of people who have tested positive are also put under quarantine. A complete contact-tracing has been started for the co-travellers, family members and others. Also, the genome sequencing on other specimens is undergoing.

The current situation is being closely monitored and regular guidanceis being offered to the states regarding investigation, improved surveillance, containment and samples dispatching to INSACOG laboratories.

The incidence of the new United Kingdom variant of the coronavirus has been reported by several countries, including Denmark, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Canada, Lebanon and Singapore.

Source: ET Healthworld