13 more United Kingdom (UK) returnees have tested positive for the new coronavirus variant.

With these fresh 13 cases, the total cases tally relating to the new coronavirus variant has risen to 71.

“71 people have been identified as carrying the UK variant strain till today in India,” the Government informed.

“All these persons have been kept in single room isolation in designated Health Care facilities by respective State Governments. Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine. Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travelers, family contacts and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is going on,” the health ministry informed.

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The results are based on the genome sequencing of positive samples released by the Indian Sars-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) labs.

The INSACOG labs have be set up by the Centre to monitor mutations in COVID-19.

Earlier, the Union health ministry said, “The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the states for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs.”

Over 33,000 people landed at different airports in India from the UK between November 25 and December 23.