New Covid virus not virulent: Karnataka Health Minister

Bengaluru: Fears of another round of lockdown loom across the world after UK reported new variant of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Karnatak Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Monday tried to allay fears saying the virus could be more contagious but not virulent.

"Initial studies in the United Kingdom suggest that the corona virus may be more contagious than the present one but not more virulent," Sudhakar told reporters here.

A medical doctor by profession, Sudhakar however stressed about continuing precautions like wearing a mask, physical distance and sanitising hands.

Meanwhile, of the 291 passengers on a British Airways flight and 296 on an Air India flight who landed at the city airport on Monday, 136 have not yet submitted their negative test report..

"We have mandated RT-PCR test and quarantine for all passengers arriving from the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands as a precautionary measure," Sudhakar said.

"Travellers who arrived in the state from these 3 European countries during the last 14 days will be traced in the next 24 hours and subjected to RT-PCR test," Sudhakar said.

The state government has set up kiosks at the city airport to screen all fliers from abroad.

Hotels, resorts and pubs allowing large gatherings on Christmas and New Year's Eve against Covid guidelines will face action, he said.

India has suspended flights from the UK from Tuesday night till December 31 as a precaution against the new coronavirus variant.

IANS report with edits