<p>Nine new cases of the UK strain of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in India, taking the total number of patients infected with the mutant virus to 82.</p>.<p>“The total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel coronavirus, first reported in the UK, now stands at 82,” the health ministry said on Friday. On Wednesday, India had 73 patients with the UK strain of the coronavirus.</p>.<p>India had suspended flights to and from Britain on December 23 as part of measures to control the spread of the mutant strain, which was found to be 70% more transmissible than the earlier variant of the virus.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/delays-over-pricing-holds-back-india-s-vital-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-935740.html" target="_blank">Delays over pricing holds back India’s vital Covid-19 vaccine rollout</a></strong></p>.<p>Flights from Britain to India have resumed from Friday and the Centre has put in place s comprehensive and stringent surveillance measures to monitor travelers from Britain.</p>.<p>As per the new standard operating procedures, passengers will be tested before boarding the flight in Britain and upon arrival in India at the cost of the passenger.</p>.<p>On arrival, passengers who test negative will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine as against seven days.</p>.<p>In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said orders have been issued to place travelers who test positive for Covid-19 on return from Britian will be isolated in an isolation facility. Those testing negative too would be taken to quarantine facilities for seven days, followed by home quarantine for another seven days.</p>.<p>The 82 who have tested positive for the new variant of the virus have been kept in single-room isolation at designated healthcare facilities by the respective state governments.</p>.<p>The close contacts of these passengers have also been put under quarantine. A comprehensive contact-tracing exercise has been initiated for their co-travellers, family members and others and genome sequencing on other specimens is going on, the ministry said.</p>.<p>The situation is being closely monitored and regular advice is being provided to the states for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG laboratories.</p>.<p>The presence of the new United Kingdom variant of the virus has already been reported by several countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore.</p>
<p>Nine new cases of the UK strain of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in India, taking the total number of patients infected with the mutant virus to 82.</p>.<p>“The total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel coronavirus, first reported in the UK, now stands at 82,” the health ministry said on Friday. On Wednesday, India had 73 patients with the UK strain of the coronavirus.</p>.<p>India had suspended flights to and from Britain on December 23 as part of measures to control the spread of the mutant strain, which was found to be 70% more transmissible than the earlier variant of the virus.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/delays-over-pricing-holds-back-india-s-vital-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-935740.html" target="_blank">Delays over pricing holds back India’s vital Covid-19 vaccine rollout</a></strong></p>.<p>Flights from Britain to India have resumed from Friday and the Centre has put in place s comprehensive and stringent surveillance measures to monitor travelers from Britain.</p>.<p>As per the new standard operating procedures, passengers will be tested before boarding the flight in Britain and upon arrival in India at the cost of the passenger.</p>.<p>On arrival, passengers who test negative will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine as against seven days.</p>.<p>In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said orders have been issued to place travelers who test positive for Covid-19 on return from Britian will be isolated in an isolation facility. Those testing negative too would be taken to quarantine facilities for seven days, followed by home quarantine for another seven days.</p>.<p>The 82 who have tested positive for the new variant of the virus have been kept in single-room isolation at designated healthcare facilities by the respective state governments.</p>.<p>The close contacts of these passengers have also been put under quarantine. A comprehensive contact-tracing exercise has been initiated for their co-travellers, family members and others and genome sequencing on other specimens is going on, the ministry said.</p>.<p>The situation is being closely monitored and regular advice is being provided to the states for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG laboratories.</p>.<p>The presence of the new United Kingdom variant of the virus has already been reported by several countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore.</p>
