Kerala reports 6 cases of UK Coronavirus strain for 1st time

The state health minister said all the six Covid-19 patients are in isolation and 29 more samples have been sent for testing.

Two cases were reported from Kozhikode, two from Alappuzha, one from Kottayam and one from Kannur.

Meanwhile, the Indian government on Monday said the country has recorded 38 UK coronavirus strain cases so far.

The strain, which is 70 per cent more infectious, was first reported in the UK in September.

In Maharashtra, eight people who returned from Britain were found with symptoms of the new strain of coronavirus, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

"8 passengers from UK returned to Maharashtra were found to have symptoms of the new coronavirus, including 5 from Mumbai, one each from Pune, Thane and Mira Bhayandar. All of them are in segregation and their contact tracing is underway," Tope tweeted.

The Maharashtra chief medical officer warned that some people returning from the UK are taking flights to airports outside the state and then coming to Mumbai to avoid quarantine.

In western Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, five cases of the mutant strain were reported.

All of the infected people are from a single-family. The chief medical officer said one of them includes a two-year-old girl.

Two Covid-19 vaccine candidates-Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the Serum Institute of India's Covishield-on Sunday received the approval of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use in India.

Drug Controller General of India VG Somani had said both firms submitted data based on their trial runs and both have been granted permission for "restricted use".

"We'll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 100 per cent safe," Somani had said at a media briefing.