Three more UK returnees test positive for virus

One passenger each from The Nilgiris, Chengalpattu and Chennai have been tested positive for the virus and their lab reports have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. So far, 13 passengers from the United Kingdom to Chennai between November 25 to December 23 have tested positive. 

Of about 2,300-odd passengers from the UK, 1,486 have been traced and tested. As many as 1,224 passengers have resulted negative and the results of 201 are awaited. Meanwhile, other passengers are being traced by the state health department officials. 

Among the 93 contacts of the 13 patients, 12 tested positive and 76 were negative. The results of five other contacts are awaited, as on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar and Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan inspected the separate isolation ward for UK returnees at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Sunday evening and stated that all the patients are stable. 

Vijaya Baskar said that government hospitals are equipped to handle the cases. “Their contacts are being traced and tested. There is no new protocol for the UK strain,” he said. 

He added that the vaccine trials are being undertaken and the State is prepared with equipment, human resources and other requirements for vaccination procedures.