After the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged in the UK, there are a huge number of cases. India is witnessing the increased cases of the new variant. The count of people infected with the new UK variant here has reached 109 at present. The Ministry of health and family welfare told on Thursday. A day before this, the count was 102.
According to reports issued by the department, before January 12, the count of people affected by this new variant of the coronavirus was 96.
Genome sequencing is underway on other specimens, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday, adding that the situation is under careful monitoring and frequent advice is issued to states for enhanced monitoring, containment, analysis, and sample dispatch to INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium) laboratories.
It is worth noticing that the new strain is far more contagious than the original and earlier virus of the corona. The thing about which the government is worried about is the outbreak. If the new strain resulted in a mass outbreak, it could cause intense damage to the country.
Earlier, the ministry stated that people who are testing positive for the new virus, are being kept in single-room isolation. These isolation centers are only designated healthcare facilities by the corresponding state governments.
The presence and its effect on people are in many countries now. Several countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon, and Singapore already have reported about this. The countries’ biggest concern is the effectiveness and potential risk it carries.
Steps Taken By India To Prevent New Variant:
From the arrival of the new variant, the government has become cautious. There are various steps taken by the Government of India to fight and prevent the country from further contamination. For this, it has imposed a complete ban on all the flights coming from December 22, 2020.
The point to note here is that the flights between the two nations have recently resumed again. From January 8, 2021, the government started the flights again with proper care.
Passengers traveling between the countries will have to undergo a compulsory RT-PCR test. This would be both in the UK before boarding the flight and after arriving in India.
The Central government of India however, has reduced the number of flights. The flights coming from Britain to India has been reduced to 30 per week. Before this, they were 60 per week in the count. This curtails the faster-spreading mutant strain in the country.
