Three more UK returnees test positive for new strain of COVID-19

Three more people who returned to Tamil Nadu from the UK have been found carrying the mutated strain of the coronavirus, said Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan on Monday.

This was confirmed after the results of the genomic sequencing were provided by the National Institute of Virology, Pune. Adding these, the number of cases of the new variant reported in Tamil Nadu has gone up to four so far.

The official added that eight have tested negative for the new variant of the virus.

Of the 44 people who tested positive after reaching Tamil Nadu, genomic sequencing of 12 have been completed so far. The results of the remaining samples are awaited, Radhakrishnan said.

According to a press note issued by the State Health Department late on Monday, all the returnees who tested positive for coronavirus infection have been admitted to separate isolation wards in various government hospitals. They are stable and are being constantly monitored by doctors, the statement said quoting Radhakrishnan.

Officials here estimate that about 2,300 passengers have travelled from the UK to Tamil Nadu between November 25, when the alert about the mutated variant was sounded, and December 23 forenoon when flights from UK were stopped.

The authorities have managed to trace and test 2,146 people as of Monday, of whom 24 were tested positive for COVID-19. Also, 20 of their contacts were also tested positive. Though the remaining 2,122 passengers tested negative for the infection, 3,482 people who were in close contact with them were traced and tested, and all tested negative, said the department.

Nine of the passengers who tested positive are in Chennai, three each in Chengalpattu, Thanjavur, Madurai and The Nilgiris, and one each in Coimbatore, Theni and Nagapattinam. Among the contact cases, six are in Chennai, four in Chengalpattu, three each in Thanjavur and Nagapattinam, two each in The Nilgiris and Theni and none in Madurai and Coimbatore.