UK Coronavirus strain: Jammu and Kashmir govt puts 20 UK returnees under surveillance

The authorities have also sounded an alert across the Union Territory.

Deputy Commissioners across the Union Territory have been issued special instructions in this regard.

"We have identified around 20 people, who have a travel history of the UK in the month of December," a Senior Administrative Official in the Health and Medical Education Department here told UNI.

"All those identified are from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir and the District Commissioners across the Union Territory have been asked to conduct their test and send samples to the concerned laboratories for the confirmation of latest COVID strain,” he divulged.

The returnees include six women, who are also from the UT.

Meanwhile, the officer said that the administrations of all districts have been asked to stay alert and quarantine travelers immediately and added, "The district heads have been told to follow SoPs and protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare."

However, there is no confirmation regarding the presence of a new UK strain across the country, which is reported to be spreading rapidly and is said to be highly infectious.

As a preventive measure, the Centre had suspended all the flights for UK and Issued SoPs.

As per the guidelines issued by the Union government, "Those international travelers from the UK who arrived in India from November 25 to December 8 will be contacted by district surveillance officers and advised to self-monitor their health. If anyone amongst them develops symptoms, they will be tested by RT-PCR test."