Total number of cases infected with new COVID UK strain stands at 71

The central government said on Wednesday that 13 more cases of mutant strain of coronavirus reported from UK have been detected in India, taking the total such cases in the country to 71.

"The total number of cases infected with the UK strain of the Coronavirus now stands at 71," the Health Ministry said.

The total number of cases infected with the UK strain of the Coronavirus now stands at 71: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/gLvsEFN1QC

— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2021

On December 29, six UK returnees were found positive for the new coronavirus variant. These were the first cases to be reported in India, which has the second highest number of coronavirus cases after the United States.

The tracing and testing was initiated after the British government announced that a newly identified strain of the virus was found in the UK population, which is up to 70 per cent more transmissible.

Notably, the UK strain has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore.

The Ministry said that it is monitoring the situation closely and giving regular advice to the states for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to labs.