New Delhi: Besides temporarily banning India-UK flight operations, the union government has now temporarily suspended its Vande Bharat flights from the United Kingdom because of a new strain of coronavirus informed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday. ALSO READ | Covid Positive UK Traveler Flees Delhi Quarantine Amid New Strain Fear, Takes Train To Andhra


Speaking during a virtual press conference, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that as many as 1,005 international flights have been operated under Phase 8 Plus of India's Vande Bharat Mission and during this period, more than 40 lakh people from 27 countries have been repatriated.

"Phase 8 Plus of this mission is currently operational since December 1. Under this phase 1,005 international flights have been operated from 27 countries facilitating an estimated 1.8 lakh people. In terms of numbers, as of December 22, more than 40 lakh people have been facilitated under the Vande Bharat Mission," he said.

During this briefing, the MEA spokesperson revealed the government's decision of temporarily suspending Vande Bharat flights from the UK.

On the flights to and from the UK, he said, "Due to emerging COVID-19 situation and the ensuing travel restrictions, there has been a temporary suspension of Vande Bharat flights from the UK."

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The Vande Bharat Mission began in early May to bring back Indians stranded abroad during Covid-19 lockdown worldwide.

On December 20, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had informed the public that a new variant of Coronavirus has been detected in the UK. He had tweeted, "Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, and the potential risk it poses, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned".

Earlier, the Union Health Ministery clarified the situation in India by stating that it is incorrect to say that the new strain has entered the country until designated laboratory reports the same. People have been advised to exercise precautions without panicking.

"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," the Ministry said.

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