PUNE: Taking the threat from the new variant of COVID-19 strain into consideration, medical check-ups have been made compulsory for travellers arriving from Europe, South Africa and the Middle East, said Dr Jayshree Katre, Resident Deputy Collector.
Earlier, after the detection of a new variant in the United Kingdom (UK) that was potentially lethal, local authorities started collecting information about persons who had returned from the UK between November 25 and December 22, when flights from the country were not allowed in. The likely more contagious variant of coronavirus, called 501.V2, was detected in South Africa earlier this month.
A night curfew has also being declared in Pune from 11 pm to 6 am, until January 5, 2021, in all municipal corporations.