No need to panic: Karnataka Health Minister on UK’s Covid mutant

Bengaluru: In the wake of emergence of a new variant of coronavirus in the UK, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K. Sudhakar held a meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee of the Health and Family Welfare Department. 

Speaking to the media after the meeting, the minister said that initial studies in the UK suggest that the virus may be more contagious than the present one but not more virulent.

In order to contain the spread of a new variant of virus, the Centre has suspended flights originating from the UK from Tuesday midnight till 31 December. As a precautionary measure, the state government has mandated RT-PCR test and quarantine for travellers from the UK, Denmark and Netherlands, the minister explained.

On Monday 291 and 296 people arrived from British Airways and Air India, respectively. Of them,136 of them have not submitted negative test reports. Travellers who have arrived in the state from these three countries in the last 14 days will be traced within the next 24 hours and subjected to RT-PCR test. While there is no need to panic I urge people to continue to follow all precautionary measures and stay safe, minister added.

Kiosks will be opened to screen international travellers at Airports. Strict action will be taken against the owners of hotels, resorts and pubs who have violated government guidelines for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the minister warned.