Thane: A resident of
Dombivli, who had recently returned from the UK, where a new strain of
coronavirus has been detected, has tested positive for the infection.
According to the instructions of the Center, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) officials conducted a test drive in the Twin Cities, during which they collected swabs from all locals who had returned from the UK after November 25.
Although the KDMC collected samples from 20 people, the test results of one woman among them came back positive for COVID-19, Dr. Pratibha Panpatil, Epidemic Officer, KDMC reported
Mirror online.
As a precautionary measure, a special survey was conducted of passengers who arrived at KDMC limits from the UK between November 25 and December 23, according to central government directives. This was in order to prevent the spread of the new strain of coronavirus that has been discovered in the UK, “he said.
“So far, 20 citizens have undergone the RT-PCR swab test in this survey, of which one citizen’s report has tested positive,” he added.
Dr Panpatil shared that the woman returned to India on December 18 and that she is currently isolated in a quarantine facility. “His condition is stable and he has not shown any other symptoms so far. His samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and we will know if he is a carrier of the mutant strain only after the reports come in,” he said.
The civic body also urged citizens to avoid going out unnecessarily and venturing into crowds during the holidays and on the occasion of the New Year. “Wear masks when leaving the house, observe social distancing and contact the nearest COVID care center if you experience any symptoms,” read a KDMC notice.
In addition to the Dombivli resident, three other UK returnees in Maharashtra have tested positive for coronavirus. Of them, one is from Mumbaiwhile the others are from Pune and Nagpur respectively.
Mutant coronavirus strain: everything you need to know about the new variant
The new strain of coronavirus
Just as the world was ready to welcome the New Year, information about the identification of a new strain of coronavirus in the United Kingdom (UK) has created an air of panic and concern around the world. Even as vaccine development and distribution campaigns are taking place around the world, this new mutant variant of the virus has alarmed experts and government authorities, leading to the imposition of new restrictions in several countries. Reuters photos
All about the new strain
The new COVID variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus has been called VUI – 202012/01 and is said to be 70% more contagious than the existing one. In London and other parts of the UK, the infection has spread like wildfire once again, forcing authorities to declare a complete lockdown with stricter rules and restrictions. Reuters photos
The initial cases
The first confirmed cases of the new strain of the virus were identified in mid-December this year in the UK, after which authorities announced that it was “out of control”. However, experts believe that the virus had been present in the region since September, but could not be detected because “there were no large-scale infections.” Reportedly, around 60 per cent of patients in the UK have been infected with the new variant. Photo: AFP
Countries that have reported cases of the new variant
Infections related to the new COVID-19 strain are currently highly concentrated in the United Kingdom, causing several countries to temporarily suspend the arrival of citizens from the region. Several cases have also been reported in South Africa, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia and Italy, while France recently suspected that the new variant could have also entered the western European country. Photo: AFP
Is the new COVID-19 strain of concern?
Health experts in the UK and US said the strain appears to infect more easily than others, but there is no evidence yet that it is more deadly. The strain is also of concern because it has many mutations – nearly two dozen – and some are in the spikey protein that the virus uses to attach itself to and infect cells. That increase is the goal of current vaccines. AP Photo
What do the experts say?
Patrick Vallance, the UK government’s chief scientific adviser, said the strain “is moving fast and is becoming the dominant strain.” “I’m worried about this, no doubt,” but it’s too early to know how important it will ultimately prove, said Dr Ravi Gupta, who studies viruses at the University of Cambridge in England. “It’s okay to get serious,” said Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London. Reuters photos
Are current vaccines effective?
Scientists say there is no evidence that vaccines currently being rolled out in the UK, made by Pfizer and BioNtech, or other COVID-19 injections in development do not protect against this variant. “This is unlikely to have more than a minor effect, if any, on the effectiveness of the vaccine,” said Adam Finn, a vaccine specialist and professor of pediatrics at the University of Bristol. According to Jeremy Farrar, director of the London-based research charity Wellcome Trust UK, there is currently no indication that the new strain bypasses treatments and vaccines. Reuters photos
New COVID-19 strain not detected in India: ICMR
The mutant strain of coronavirus has not been seen in samples tested from various parts of India, reported Dr. Samiran Panda, director of the ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute (NARI). Speaking to ANI, Dr Panda said: “We have analyzed samples collected from various parts of the country and we have not seen the mutant strain found in the UK. We should not think that this will definitely come to India.”
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