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New Delhi : The National Task Force (NTF) on Covid-19 has concluded that there is no need to change either the existing National Treatment Protocol or existing Testing Protocols in view of the mutant variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus reported from UK. The NTF has also recommended that in addition to the existing surveillance strategy, it is critical to conduct enhanced genomic surveillance.
Government of India had taken cognisance of the reports of mutant variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus reported from UK and put in place a pro-active and preventive strategy to detect and contain the mutant variant.
This strategy includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:-
- Temporary suspension of all flights coming from UK with effect from the midnight of December 23, 2020, till December 31, 2020.
- Mandatory testing of all UK returnee air passengers through RT-PCR test. The samples of all UK returnees found positive in RT-PCR test to be genome sequenced by a consortium of 10 govt. labs i.e. INSACOG.
- Meeting of the National Task Force (NTF) on Covid-19 on December 26, 2020, to consider and recommend Testing, Treatment, Surveillance and Containment Strategy.
- Standard Operating Protocol for States/UTs to tackle the mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 issued on December 22, 2020.
The entire issue was examined at length by NTF on December 26, 2020, and the NTF concluded that there is no need to change either the existing National Treatment Protocol or existing Testing Protocols in view of the mutant variant, according to a PIB release.
From November 25 to December 23, 2020, midnight, about 33,000 passengers disembarked at various Indian airports from UK. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by States/UTs to RT-PCR tests. So far only 114 have been found positive. These positive samples have been sent to 10 INSACOG labs (NIBMG Kolkata, ILS Bhubaneswar, NIV Pune, CCS Pune, CCMB Hyderabad, CDFD Hyderabad, InSTEM Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, IGIB Delhi, NCDC Delhi) for genome sequencing.
A total of 6 samples of 6 UK returnee persons have been found to be positive with the new U.K variant genome. 3 in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, 2 in CCMB, Hyderabad, and 1 in NIV, Pune.
All these persons have been kept in single room isolation in designated Health Care facilities by respective State Governments. Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine. Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts, and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is going on.
The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the States for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing, and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs.
It is important to note that the presence of the new UK Variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon, and Singapore, so far.