18:31 December 23
Delhi suspects first case of new coronavirus strain
New Delhi: The first suspected case of new coronavirus strain has been reported from Delhi's Lok Nayak Hospital on Wednesday. The patient recently returned from England.
The first suspected case of new coronavirus strain comes at a time when the national capital's infection rate has dropped below one per cent.
Lok Nayak's Medical Director Dr Suresh Kumar said, "We have admitted the first suspected case of new coronavirus strain. We have kept the patient separately and he is asymptomatic. At present, the patient is keeping fine and the final report will come after two-three days. However, this is a matter of grave concern but we are prepared for it."
"We are following the protocols of the government and the state government has also made adequate arrangements to tackle the crisis," he added.
It has been reported that this variant has an unusually large number of genetic changes, particularly in the spike protein. The new UK variant B.1.1.7 is 70 per cent more transmissible and is likely to affect the younger population.
India on Monday suspended all connecting flights from UK in the wake of the new coronavirus strain. Passengers coming from the UK through flights till Dec 22 midnight would be tested for COVID-19 on arrival at airports "as a measure of abundant precaution".