India finds more passengers with covid-19 on UK flights, testing for new virus strain

News Network
December 22, 2020

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Chennai, Dec 22: Two passengers, who arrived from the United Kingdom, tested positive for coronavirus at Kolkata airport on Sunday, a Kolkata airport official said.

This comes as the aviation ministry on Monday announced the suspension of all flights to and from the UK from today until the end of 31 December, and made it mandatory for all passengers arriving before the ban comes into force to be tested for Covid-19.

India has the second-highest number of Covid-19 infections in the world after the US, with its tally rising past 10 million on the weekend. Over 146,000 people have died of coronavirus in India.

More Covid cases on UK flights

In another similar incident, a passenger, who returned from the UK via Delhi to Chennai, has tested positive for coronavirus.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said, "We are testing for Covid-19 passengers of flights originating or halting in UK. One such passenger tested positive yesterday. It's incorrect to presume that he is infected with UK variant of COVID. We'll send his samples to NIV, Pune."

Meanwhile, amid concerns about a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said, "I came to know about a person who tested positive after arriving from UK. We are following all guidelines. Whoever will come from UK will be tested at the airport."

Also, five people out of 266 passengers and crew members of a flight have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the Delhi airport from London amid the discovery of a new and more infectious coronavirus strain in the UK.

The Delhi government has also announced door-to-door checkup of those who returned from the UK in the past two weeks.

Will vaccines work against this new strain of Covid?

Experts have said despite the mutation, a Covid-19 vaccine will be equally effective against it as there was no reason to believe that vaccines that have already been developed would not be effective against the new strain as well.

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has said that suspending flights from and to the UK until 31 December is just a precautionary measure. "This strain has not been found in India," he said amid concerns about a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.

As per reports, experts have said that coronavirus vaccines are not dependent on one antibody. They are dependent on a number of antibodies to provide protection. So now, we don't have to worry about it.

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News Network
November 22,2024

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Bengaluru, Nov 22: For the second day running, the Karnataka BJP on Friday staged a statewide protest condemning the government’s alleged move to notify land of farmers as Waqf property.

The BJP staged a protest before the offices of Deputy Commissioners at district headquarters.

The BJP leaders are vehemently demanding that the state government cancel a 1974 Gazette notification in this regard.

The agitators are also demanding scrapping of the Waqf Board and the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan.

The BJP MLAs, MLCs, MPs gathered in the premises of Freedom Park and staged a protest under the leadership of Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and slammed the state government.

MLA T.S. Srivatsa led the protest in Mysuru and hundreds of party workers and farmers staged the protest under the leadership of former MP Pratap Simha in Kodagu.

Former MP Sumalatha Ambareesh led the agitation in Mandya.

This was the first time that Sumalatha took part in the party’s programme after the Lok Sabha elections.

State President B.Y. Vijayendra claimed, “The Congress government in Karnataka is issuing notices to farmers claiming the ownership of their lands to the Waqf Board and pushing them on the streets overnight.”

In the first week of December, three teams formed by the BJP will travel across the state and record the grievances of farmers.

“The state government is attempting to snatch away the lands belonging to temples as well,” Vijayendra alleged and added that the teams would comprise all senior leaders of the BJP.

Meanwhile, the police have taken Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik into custody while staging a protest march to the office of Zameer Ahmad Khan in Bengaluru.

Muthalik along with Hindutva activists was planning to lay siege to Zameer’s office over the Waqf row.

The police stopped Muthalik and requested him to submit the memorandum by reaching the minister’s office in a vehicle. However, Muthalik refused to go with the police and continued his footmarch. The police took him into custody following arguments.

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News Network
November 26,2024

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Mangaluru: The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are witnessing a fascinating weather pattern, with chilly early mornings giving way to dry, sweltering afternoons. Over the past two days, dense fog blanketed the rural landscapes, while urban centers like Mangaluru felt the stark contrast of brisk mornings and peak afternoon heat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that in rural areas, the morning chill caused temperatures to dip by one to two degrees Celsius below the seasonal norm, intensifying the fog. Monday saw Mangaluru recording a maximum temperature of 33.3°C and a minimum of 22.6°C, reflective of the sharp day-night variation.

While mornings painted a serene picture with mist-covered trees and a cool ambiance, the afternoons proved relentless, with temperatures soaring between 11 am and 3 pm, offering little respite. Currently, there are no signs of rainfall, with forecasts predicting the continuation of this dual weather pattern for the coming days.

Local residents have mixed feelings about this weather trend. Farmers in rural areas appreciate the cool mornings that ease early chores but express concerns over the dry afternoons, which may affect crop irrigation if the dry spell prolongs. In contrast, urban dwellers are enjoying the foggy mornings but brace for the scorching afternoons.

Meteorologists attribute the sudden chill to shifts in atmospheric pressure along the coast, a precursor to possible weather transitions in December. Whether this pattern persists or leads to unexpected changes remains to be seen, but the twin districts are clearly caught in nature's dramatic play of contrasts.

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News Network
November 19,2024

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