CM Yediyurappa urges people to guard against new Covid strain

Bengaluru: Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has appealed to the people to take precautions against the new strain of Covid-19, while ruling out any change in safety guidelines.

He has urged all those who have returned from the UK in the last two months to get tested for the mutated coronavirus.

Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, he said that the transmission of the mutated virus was higher.

"We must take precautions and adhere to the guidelines to prevent its spread," he said.

"Dear citizens, the danger of corona has still not subsided. As we enter into the New Year even the slightest ignorance regarding the pandemic is not done," he said.

"Follow the government's guidelines and rules and stay safe by taking all the necessary precautionary measures, and cooperate," Yediyurappa tweeted.

The CM's appeal comes ahead of the New Year, even as the government has prohibited parties, special DJ dance programmes and events at clubs, pubs, restaurants and other places that attract people in large numbers, in an apparent bid to keep the virus spread under check.

Out of 25 people who were tested for the new strain of virus, seven people (four from Shivamogga and three from Bengaluru) have tested positive.

Scaling up the steps to prevent the spread of new strain of Covid, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on December 30 that the Centre had extended the temporary suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom till January 7.

A total of 2,500 people have come to the State from the UK since November 25 to December 22 in two flights--Air India and British Airways.

Out of them, tests have been conducted so far on 1,903 passengers. Of these, 29 tested positive for the virus while 1,599 were negative. The results of 275 people are awaited.