OVIDNEW DELHI: The new strain of Coronavirud found in
the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far, the
health ministry said on Tuesday.
"Haven't detected any significant mutation yet in coronavirus strain in India," the health ministry informed adding that there is no cause of concern as of now.
"Mutated SARS-CoV-2 strain detected in UK has increased transmissibility but this mutation isn't affecting disease severity, case fatality," the health ministry said in a press briefing.
Earlier today, the government issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for people who have recently traveled to the UK. The ministry in its statement also warned that the changes in the spike protein of the virus may result in the virus becoming more infectious and spreading more easily between people.
"As of now, it has no impact on the potential of the emerging vaccines being developed in our country and are available in other countries," Dr VK Paul, Member (Health),
NITI Aayog said. The health ministry urged people to not panic but also stressed on the need to stay vigilant.
India, on Monday, joined several other countries in suspending all passenger flights connecting to the UK from Wednesday till December 31.
The new variant of the SARS-CoV 2 virus has been reported by the Government of United Kingdom to the World Health Organization. This variant is estimated by European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) to be more transmissible and affecting younger population.
The new variant is said to be 70 per cent more transmissible, though health experts say there is no evidence that it is more deadly or would react differently to vaccines.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said there has been a sustained decline in COVID-19 cases in India since mid-September.
"India has reported 124 Covid-19 cases per million population in the last seven days as against the global figure of 588. India has reported two Covid-19 deaths per million population in the last seven days as against the global figure of 10 deaths," he said.
Bhushan said that 26 states and UTs have less than 10,000 active cases of Covid-19.
(With agency inputs)