Mutant Coronavirus Scare: UK Returnee Tests Positive In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A 34-year-old man, who recently returned from the United Kingdom, has been tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

According to the information shared by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the man who reached Bhubaneswar from UK on December 18 tested positive for the virus at a private laboratory.

The civic body added that the returnee having mild flu-like symptoms has been shifted to a government-run Covid-hospital.

Stating that the contact tracing of the returnee has been already completed as per government guidelines, the BMC said, "Confirmatory test on Spike Genome Sequencing is being done through RMRC to ascertain the COVID strain."

Information on #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/Ff26oiQ8hH

— BMC (@bmcbbsr) December 23, 2020

As per sources, the new SARS-CoV-2 variant was revealed to be the reason behind the rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in South and East England. Being referred to as VUI (Variant Under Investigation) 202012/01, or the B.1.1.7 lineage. Meanwhile, amid scare over the spread of the new viral strain, India and a host of other countries have banned UK flights and imposed travel restrictions.

Meanwhile, the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for all the airlines as a precautionary measure. The carriers have been asked to inform the airport authorities about the passengers returning from the UK.

The BMC has set up kiosks at the terminal to screen passengers for COVID-19 arriving at the airport from UK.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)