Amid rising concerns over a new, strain of the coronavirus in Britian, India announced the suspension of all flights from and to the UK until the end of 2020. Ministry of Civil Aviation announced Monday, “Considering the prevailing situation in UK. Govt. of India has decided that all flights originating from UK to India to be suspended till 31st December 2020 (23.59 hours). This suspension to start w.e.f. 23.59 hours, 22nd December 2020. Consequently flights from India to UK shall stand temporarily suspended during above said period.”
The statement further said, “As a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from UK in all transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights which are reaching India before 22nd Dec at 23.59 hrs) should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at the airports concerned.”
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri wrote in a series of tweets, “We have decided to take all necessary precautions as a result of the situation arising out of the spread of a new strain of coronavirus in some countries. All flights originating from U.K into India will be suspended temporarily from 22 Dec to 31 Dec 2020. In the interim, it has been decided that passengers arriving from UK on all international flights (flights in transit) should be subjected to mandatory RT PCR tests on arrival.Those found positive on arrival should be sent for institutional quarantine set up by state/UT govts, in collaboration with the states/UTs concerned. Those found negative should be advised to isolate at home for 7 days & will be medically monitored by the States/UTs.”
Meanwhile, India has reported fresh 19,275 covid cases and 317 deaths due to the virus. The country currently has an active case load of 2,91,620 patients. India has reported 1,00,75,294 cases till date.
Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan expressed hopes that a vaccine may be available by January. “Our scientists and health experts have worked on the development of a vaccine by genome sequencing and isolation of the coronavirus and developed an indigenous vaccine. In 6-7 months, we will have the capacity to inoculate about 30 crore people.”
He added, “The 30 crore people to be vaccinated in the beginning will include 1 crore medical workers, 2 crore frontline workers, 26 crore people above the age of 50 and 1 crore people below the age of 50 but those who are suffering from any ailment.”
On the other side of the globe, newly-elected President of the United States of America (USA) Joe Biden took the first shot of coronavirus vaccine, live on TV, in a bid to boost public confidence in the vaccine. “I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it’s available to take the vaccine. There’s nothing to worry about,”he said.