State government has urged people to remain calm and not panic over the mutated strain of Covid-19 that has been reported in the UK. State Health Secretary Radhakrishnan said necessary precautions are being taken to contain the pandemic and people should follow social distancing norms. Radhakrishnan said nearly 70,000 RT-PCR tests are carried out every day in Tamil Nadu.

Talking about the passenger from London who tested positive for Covid-19, he said the person had travelled from London to Chennai via New Delhi. He said the person is asymptomatic and his samples have been sent to NIV Pune to confirm he has been infected with the mutated strain of Covid-19.

The health secretary added that people are confusing the mutated strain of the virus with a new strain. "Multiple mutated strains of Covid-19 are already prevalent," he said.

Radhakrishnan said in order to check the spread of Covid-19, the state government has reactivated various RT-PCR test booths and preventive measures are being taken at airports.