In a big relief to the people of Manipur, the result of one sample test of a UK returnee that was sent to Pune VRDL for confirmation of the new COVID-19 variant returned "negative" on Thursday.
Announcing the test result, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in a Facebook post that there is no UK COVID strain in Manipur.
"Happy news,UK returnee...is covid Negative at NIV Pune. So no UK strain at Manipur till today," CM Biren said in his Facebook post.
The sample of the UK returnee was sent to NIV Pune from the VRDL, JNIMS in Imphal on January 4.
As the nationwide dry run began on December 28, Manipur started the dry run on January 2 from Thoubal district and Imphal West.
The dry run for COVID-19 vaccination in all parts of Manipur, except Imphal West and Thoubal districts will be conducted on January 8 from 10 am till 12 noon.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 active caseload in Manipur has dipped below 500 as 27,642 persons out of the total 28,484 caseload have recovered.
The number of COVID-19 active caseload in the state as of Wednesday was 479 while the death toll stood at 363.
State Health Service director K Rajo had said at a weekly review meeting that all sorts of preparation to face the new variant have started, including increasing airport health services staffs, screening has been strengthened; institutional quarantine and institutional isolation areas have been opened at RD wing.
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