1,598 UK returnees tested for COVID, results of 28 samples with NIV awaited

The results of 28 people, including 13 returnees from the UK and 15 of their contacts, sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for genomic sequencing are still awaited. The officials of the State Health Department said the results would be sent to the Union Health Ministry. 

TN Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said the genomic sequencing results would be verified multiple times before any announcement is made. He denied rumours of the new strain being identified among the samples sent to NIV from Tamil Nadu. “The reports have to be verified to ascertain if it is a local, foreign or mixed mutation. So far, the state health department has not received the results of any of the samples from the laboratory on the genomic analysis,” the Secretary said. 

The State Health Department is continuing with the tracing of other passengers and testing the contacts of the UK returnees. Among the 93 contacts of the 13 patients, 15 tested positive and 77 negatives. The result of one person is awaited. 

He added that the ministry will be informed directly from the laboratory in case of any variation in any of the samples. He said the State authorities would also be informed.