Traveller from UK tests +ve at Guwahati airport, isolated

Guwahati: Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said one traveller from the United Kingdom (UK) has tested positive for Covid-19 and was isolated at the airport here.

However, Sarma clarified that there is no cause for panic simply on speculations that the person might be infected with the new mutant variety of the novel coronavirus.

“An alert has been raised in India after a new variant of Covid-19 was reported in the UK. A person, who returned from Britain, was found positive on arrival here. The sample of the patient has been sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune for verification,” Sarma said.

He added, “The person has been isolated immediately so that there is no spread of the virus. We are waiting for the confirmatory report from Pune as to whether the person is infected with the new variety of the virus.”

Asking people to not pay heed to rumours, the health minister said, “Speculations will not only put pressure on the person’s family, but will also create unnecessary fear in the minds of the people. We do not want that at this moment when we have decided to resume normal life from January 1.”

When asked as to whether there would be any further lockdowns in view of this new variety of the virus, the minister categorically ruled it out.