Prithviraj Chavan: Govt must immediately suspend all flights to and from UK until clarity on new 'mutated' Coronavirus

Multiple countries have halted all international flights amid fears over a highly infectious new mutant strain of the novel coronavirus which has been discovered in Britain.

Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Italy, France, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Israel are among the nations that have placed restrictions on travel with the UK.

Maharashtra former Chief Minister and MLA Prithviraj Chavan has tweeted reagrding the news of mutant covid-19 strain. Chavan took to Twitter and wrote,"Govt must immediately suspend all flights to and from UK until there is clarity on the new mutated #CORONA virus. Till then all passengers from Incoming flights from must be quarantined."

Meanwhile the Union Health Ministry is going to conduct a high-level meeting today to discuss the new Coronavirus strain found in the United Kingdom.

A senior government official said that the Joint Monitoring Group (JGM) has decided to hold a meeting to discuss the new Covid strain found in the United Kingdom. Representatives of the World Health Organization are likely to attend the meeting, said the official.

"As far as India is concerned, there is no major change or mutation in the Covid strain yet. We are studying strains of coronavirus very closely in our country. But, yes, we also keep a track of whatever is happening in the world related to the variants of COVID-19 strain," said the official.

On December 19, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had announced that the newly identified strain of the virus may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible.

According to British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the new variant was "out of control".

By the week ending December 9, the new variant accounted for 62 per cent in London, 59 per cent in eastern England, and 43 per cent in the South East.

Govt must immediately suspend all flights to and from UK until there is clarity on the new mutated #CORONA virus. Till then all passengers from Incoming flights from must be quarantined.

— Prithviraj Chavan (@prithvrj) December 21, 2020