One UK returnee tests positive, genome sequencing results awaited

Complying with the Union ministry of health and family welfare’s guidelines, the district health department has been testing all UK returnees who arrived in Gurugram between December 9 and December 23.

A 22-year-old man, who returned from the United Kingdom on December 19, tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. To further confirm whether the positive case has been infected with the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, the Gurugram health department has sent his sample to the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in Delhi for genome sequencing.

Travellers show their IDs while maintaining social distancing at an entry gate at Terminal T2 of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport . (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Complying with the Union ministry of health and family welfare’s guidelines, the district health department has been testing all UK returnees who arrived in Gurugram between December 9 and December 23. The central government, on December 21, had banned all flights to and from the UK in light of the mutant strain of Covid-19.

Till now, 367 UK returnees have been tested, of which at least 349 have tested negative and the test results of 17 are awaited.

Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, said, “Continuing with the surveillance and testing, a 22-year-old man was found positive for Covid-19. Samples of his three immediate contacts have also been taken for testing. And while the positive patient is currently admitted to the designated isolation centre for UK returnees, his close contacts ar under quarantine at home. The state health department has been informed about the positive case as results of the genome sequencing will be shared with the state.”

Till now, at least 713 UK returnees arrived in Gurugram since December 9. Of these, 517 have been traced by the health department. At least 164 moved to other countries and states, while 32 continue to remain untraceable due to incorrect contact details.