No need to panic, new coronavirus strain not detected in India so far: Govt

at 5:52 pm
NITI Aayog member V K Paul (File Pic)

New Delhi (NVI): The new coronavirus strain found in the United Kingdom has not been detected in India so far and there is no need to panic, the Union Government said today.

While addressing a presser here, NITI Aayog member, Dr VK Paul said, “There is no cause for concern, no need to panic, as for now. We need to stay vigilant.”

“The new strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom has increased transmissibility. This mutation is not affecting the severity of the disease,” he said.

“Case fatality is not affected by this mutation,” Paul added.

Earlier today, Union Health Ministry issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for passengers arriving from the UK, which states that people coming from the country should undergo RT-PCR test and isolate themselves in a separate unit of an institutional facility if found positive.

Furthermore, India has suspended all passenger flights connecting the United Kingdom from Wednesday till December 31 or till further orders in the wake of the emergence of a mutated strain of the virus there, joining several other countries that have imposed a similar flight ban.

-CHK