GUWAHATI: A total number of 71 people have been detected with the new dreadful UK variant of coronavirus strain in India so far, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Tuesday.
"71 people have been identified as carrying the UK variant strain (of coronavirus) till today in India," said Reny Swarup, secretary of Ministry of Science and Technology's Department of Biotechnology.
With the aim of controlling the spread of this mutated variant of the virus, the authorities have begun contact tracing for co-travelers and family contacts.
As reported by government statistics, about 33,000 passengers landed at various Indian airports from the UK between November 25 to December 23 midnight.
"The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the states for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs," the Union health ministry had stated past week.
Several countries including Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore have reported the presence of the new UK variant by now.
