Bhubaneswar: The genome sequencing of the samples taken from UK returnees has not detected the new strain of coronavirus, the Health department stated on Thursday.
As many as 204 samples were collected from the returnees and their contacts for test. However, seven of them have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday stated that total 88 persons have returned to the state from the UK as on December 29.
Of them, 62 belong to the areas under BMC jurisdiction. But 20 returnees have remained untraced.