UK returnee tests COVID-19 positive in Assam

GUWAHATI

A traveller from the United Kingdom, who arrived here a few days ago, has tested positive for COVID-19 and the swab samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune to find out whether the patient has contracted a new strain of coronavirus, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on December 25.

The person returned to the state recently amid concern over the detection of a mutated and more infectious strain of COVID-19 in the European country and has been admitted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital here; he told reporters.

“The samples of the patient have been sent to NIV, Pune to ascertain whether the person has contracted the new strain of COVID-19 or not. We will provide the details only after we get the report,” the minister said.

Asked whether the government will enforce fresh lockdown to contain the spread of the disease in the state, Sarma said there is no possibility of taking any such measure as the number of daily cases have come down to less than 100.

“As of now, we are heading for a regular and normal life with the reopening of schools and colleges from January 1,” Sarma said.

Assam’s COVID-19 caseload mounted to 2,15,755 with detection 95 fresh cases on December 24 and 1,033 people have succumbed to the disease.

The number of active cases stood at 3,456, while 2,11,283 people have recovered from the infection. (PTI)

(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)