Amid growing concerns over the mutant coronavirus that has spread rapidly in the UK, a joint monitoring group on COVID-19 had met this morning to discuss the issue.
The Indian government today, amid growing panic globally over a new fast-spreading strain of the coronavirus, banned flights to and from the UK till December 31.
“Considering the prevailing situation in UK, the government of India has decided that all flights originating from UK to India to be suspended till 31st December,” the centre said.
“Consequently flights from India to UK shall stand temporarily suspended during above said period,” it added.
An RT-PCR test at airports will be conducted on passengers of flights from UK arriving before midnight tomorrow.
Amid growing concerns over the mutant coronavirus that has spread rapidly in the UK, a joint monitoring group on COVID-19 had met this morning to discuss the issue.
Several European countries, Canada and Saudi Arabia have suspended flights from the UK over the new strain, believed to be 70 per cent more infectious.
The government was fully alert about the new strain and stressed “there’s no need to panic”, health minister Harsh Vardhan said.
Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had called for a ban on flights from the UK. He tweeted: “New mutation of corona virus has emerged in UK, which is a super-spreader. I urge central government to ban all flights from UK immediately.”
First detected in southeast England in September, the mutant virus is quickly becoming the dominant strain in London and other parts of the UK. It has led to surging infection numbers and fresh restrictions, casting a cloud on Christmas celebrations.
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