Govt issues new SOPs for people arriving from UK, on account of new Covid strain
The government of India has today issued a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for the travelers arriving from the UK in view of the new strain of coronavirus being detected in the UK. The SOP will mainly focus on the Epidemiological Surveillance and Response of the new strain. The salient requirements mentioned in the SOP include RT-PCR testing on arrival, separate isolation of those testing positive for the new variant of coronavirus, institutional quarantine for co-passengers of those testing positive.
The SOP is published in the wake of growing fears around the new mutant variant of the coronavirus detected recently in Britain. Releasing the SOP, the ministry of health and family welfare said this new variant of the virus is estimated by the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) to be more transmissible and affecting the younger population.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday had already suspended all flights originating from the UK to India.“This suspension to start w.e.f. 11.59 pm, 22nd December.