CHENNAI: One person in Tamil Nadu who returned from the United Kingdom recently tested positive for the new super-spreader Covid-19 strain.
The 25-year man from Chennai is admitted to National Institute of Ageing in Guindy, S Selvanayagam, Tamil Nadu director of public health, confirmed with TOI.
J Radhakrishnan, state health secretary, said that a total of 17 UK returnees tested positive in TN. Another 16 persons, who were in contact with these patients also tested positive (through RT-PCR tests).
As per the national task force, no change in treatment or testing protocols are needed. The admitted UK returnee, including the person who has been confirmed as with UK variant, is stable and being given best care by a team of experts in TN in respective hospital, Radhakrishnan added.
All the 33 samples were sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune for genomic analysis and they have received results of only one sample so far. In case more UK returnees test positive for the new strain, arrangements have been made to treat them in separate wards.
Approximately 2,300 passengers travelled from UK between November 25 and December 21, according to official data.