In the midst of rising concerns over the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK, eight passengers (5 in New Delhi and 2 in Kolkata and 1 in Chennai) of three UK to India flights have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said on Tuesday. "Five out of 266 passengers and crew members of a flight which arrived at Delhi airport from London last night have tested positive for COVID-19. Their samples have been sent to NCDC for research and they have been sent to the care centre," said a Nodal officer for COVID-19.

The health department officials said, "Two passengers from the UK were Found positive for COVID-19 after they arrived at the Kolkata airport here". A flight carrying 222 passengers from the UK arrived at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport on Sunday night, they added. The West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department official said, "Twenty-five passengers did not have COVID reports with them. So they were taken to a nearby quarantine centre, and their coronavirus tests were conducted. Two tested positive". 

Tamil Nadu health secretary Dr Radha Krishnan has said One passenger from UK has tested positive on Monday. Remaining passengers are in quarantine and the Positive patient samples have been sent for further analysis of the Virus, to find whether it matches with new variant or not. The Covid 19 protocol says passengers coming from the UK through flights till Tuesday midnight would be tested for COVID-19 on arrival at airports "as a measure of abundant precaution". 

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