The UK variant of COVID-19 was found in 70% of 60 samples sent to the National Centre for Diseases Control, the PGIMER said on 15th April.

For our comprehensive coverage and latest updates on COVID-19 click here.

Seventy per cent of the samples had the UK variant of COVID-19 and 20 per cent of the samples had 681 H mutant, said Jagat Ram, the director of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, in a statement. The PGIMER's Department of Virology had sent 60 positive samples of COVID-19 to the National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), New Delhi in March. It was found that 70 per cent of the samples had UK variants of COVID-19, one sample was having a double mutation. 681H mutant of COVID-19 was observed in 20 per cent of the samples. Jagat Ram said considering the high transmission and faster spread of COVID-19 by the UK variant, everyone should follow COVID- appropriate behaviour. The director further advised avoiding crowded places and non-essential travels. He also stressed the need for vaccinating priority groups.