Six Samples from UK Returnee Persons found Positive with the new UK variant of Coronavirus

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) Labs has released initial results of Genome sequencing of mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 and Six Samples from UK Returnee Persons found Positive with the new UK variant genome, according to a statement issued by Union Health Ministry  today.  “Three samples found positive  in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, two  in CCMB, Hyderabad and one in NIV, Pune,” it said.

 

According to the Ministry, all these persons have been kept in single room isolation in designated Health Care facilities by respective State Governments. Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine. Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is going on.

“The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the States for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing & dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs,” the Ministry said. 

Government of India took cognizance of the reports of mutant variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus reported from UK and put in place a pro-active and preventive strategy to detect and contain the mutant variant.

The Centre’s strategies include temporary suspension of all flights coming from UK with effect from the midnight of 23rd December 2020 till 31stDecember 2020. Moreover, the government made testing mandatory for all UK returnee air passengers through RT-PCR test. The samples of all UK returnees found positive in RT-PCR test to be genome sequenced by a consortium of 10 government  labs such as  INSACOG.

Meeting of the National Task Force (NTF) on Covid-19 was also convened on 26th December 2020 to consider and recommend Testing, Treatment, Surveillance and Containment Strategy. Standard Operating Protocol for States/UTs was put in place to tackle the mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 .

The entire issue was examined at length by NTF on 26th December 2020 and the NTF concluded that there is no need to change either the existing National Treatment Protocol or existing Testing Protocols in view of the mutant variant. NTF also recommended that in addition to the existing surveillance strategy, it is critical to conduct enhanced genomic surveillance.

From 25th November to 23rd December 2020 midnight, about 33,000 passengers disembarked at various Indian airports from UK. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by States/UTs to RT-PCR tests. So far only 114 have been found positive. These positive samples have been sent to 10 INSACOG labs (NIBMG Kolkata, ILS Bhubaneswar, NIV Pune, CCS Pune, CCMB Hyderabad, CDFD Hyderabad, InSTEM Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, IGIB Delhi, NCDC Delhi) for genome sequencing.

It is important to note that the presence of the new UK Variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore, so far.