There is a growing concern over the new coronavirus strain discovered in the UK, which is said to be seven times more contagious. To curb the spread of coronavirus, India has suspended all flights to and from the UK. Not only that, but passengers travelling from the UK via UAE will also be restricted entry to India. However, before they imposed the ban, few flights landed in India from the UK. On Tuesday, two flights from the UK landed at Delhi airport at night. All passengers had to undergo RT-PCR tests at the Delhi airport to prevent the spread of the new strain Sars-Cov-2.
22 UK-Return Passengers Tested COVID Positive
However, many passengers were found to be infected upon landing. Since Monday night, close to 1,000 passengers arrived in Delhi, and at least 22 passengers have been tested positive. The positive samples have been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi for genome sequencing to test if they are infected with the new strain. Experts said that nearly 50% of these UK travellers could be potential carriers of the new, more infectious COVID-19 strain. However, they are still awaiting confirmation.
All Travellers In Direct Contact With Positive Passengers To Quarantine
Officials said that passengers have also been quarantined for coming in direct contact with those who tested positive. According to the new guidelines, if fliers from UK test positive on arrival, then passengers sitting in the same row, three rows ahead and three rows behind will also be quarantined. Maharashtra Imposes Mandatory Quarantine Rules For Passengers Flying From Europe, UK & Middle East.
Meanwhile, in Amritsar, seven passengers and a crew member on board Air India’s flight from London’s Heathrow airport tested positive. All of them have been admitted to the hospital. All the airports are trying to trace passengers back to one month.