Eleven UK-returnee tests positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai

Mumbai: The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune is likely to release the genome sequencing test report of eleven people who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus after travelling from the United Kingdom to Mumbai recently. The test will reveal if any of the patients were infected by the new variant of COVID-19, which is 70 per cent more transmissible than the existing COVID-19 virus.

On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials confirmed that the samples of all the eleven people who tested COVID-19 positive after their travel from the UK were sent to NIV Pune to find out if they are the carriers of the new strain of COVID-19 or not.

Along with the 11 people, 40 others, who were in contact with these 11 people were contacted by BMC. The Additional Commissioner of BMC, Suresh Kakani said that BMC will also test these 40 people if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19.

The municipal corporation is further tracking down people who have arrived in Mumbai from the UK since November 25. RT-PCR test has been conducted on 738 passengers so far. Out of 738 people, 11 have tested positive for COVID-19. The report of the test is expected in three days time. However, it might be delayed as the NIV lab in Pune is burdened with the sudden load of work.

The new strain of virus emerged in the UK in the month of December 2020. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that this new strain of COVID-19 could be "up to 70 per cent more transmissible." However, many experts are saying that the new strain might be more communicable but is not more deadly.

India has already suspended all the flights to and from the United Kingdom till December 31. Along with India, many other countries suspended flights to and from the UK.

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