Incorrect to say new Covid strain has entered India till it’s established by designated lab: Health Ministry

It’s incorrect to say that the new strain of the coronavirus has entered India until it’s established by a designated laboratory, the Union Ministry of Health said.
It’s incorrect to say that the new strain of the coronavirus has entered India until it’s established by a designated laboratory, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said.
To establish the presence of a mutant virus, it is necessary to establish a genome sequencing which could be done only through designated labs of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Biotechnology, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and National Centre for Disease Control, the Ministry said in a statement.
“Genome sequencing has not so far been done in respect of the 15 passengers of the 590 who landed in Mumbai from the UK on December 22. Therefore, it’s incorrect to say that the new strain of the coronavirus has entered India until it is established by a designated laboratory.” said the Ministry.
As per Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, 591 passengers arrived from the UK on Tuesday on three flights. Of which, 299 were sent to various hotels following the laid-down SOPs.
BMC has put out quarantine rules for passengers arriving from the UK, Middle East, and Europe. Flights from the UK have been temporarily suspended.
FLIGHT (PASSENGERS) DETAILS FROM 22 DECEMBER 10 PM TO 23 DECEMBER 10 AM:
Estimated Passengers: 2,000
Passengers who actually arrived: 1,688
Quarantined in Mumbai: 745
Flew to other states: 602
Non-Europe/Middle East/Sa Flights: 339
Exempted: 2