Amid mounting issues more than a rapidly-spreading new coronavirus strain detected in the United Kingdom, the Centre has on Tuesday issued a list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which impose particular guidelines on passengers arriving from the nation.
Besides, the government on Monday suspended all flights from UK into India and vice versa, with impact from 11.59 pm on December 22 to 11.59 pm on December 31.
Moreover, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government has imposed a evening curfew in all municipal corporation limits from December 22 to January 5 in the wake of the new strain of coronavirus in the UK. The curfew will be from 11 pm to 6 am.
Meanwhile, the Centre has on Tuesday stated that no substantial mutation have been detected but in the coronavirus strain in India. However, authorities will have to continue to stay vigilant, the government added.
“We haven’t detected any significant mutation yet in coronavirus strain in India. There is no cause of concern but we have to be vigilant,” news agency PTI quoted government sources as saying.
Dr VK Paul, a member of government assume-tank NITI Aayog, reportedly confirmed that the new strain or mutation of the coronavirus, that was detected in the United Kingdom, has not been observed in India so far.
“The new strain of COVID19 in the United Kingdom has increased transmissibility. This mutation is not affecting the severity of the disease. Case fatality is not affected by this mutation,” he added.
With the vaccination approach about to start out in India, lots of are also concerned whether or not the vaccines will prove productive against the new coronavirus strain.
However, according to Jeremy Farrar, director of the London-primarily based study charity Wellcome Trust UK, there is no indication at the moment that the new strain would evade therapies and vaccines.
“However, the mutation is a reminder of the power of the virus to adapt, and that cannot be ruled out in the future. Acting urgently to reduce transmission is critical,” Farrar stated in a statement.
(With PTI inputs)