The state government on Monday announced mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine for fliers from the UK, the Middle East and Europe in view of the discovery of a new, more infectious strain of the novel Coronavirus in England. Air passengers from other countries will have to go in home quarantine after an antigen test.

The decision was taken at a meeting Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held with senior bureaucrats and COVID Task Force officials on Monday evening to discuss a precautionary move to ensure the new strain does not sneak into the state. “The new virus strain found in Britain is spreading fast. We need to be more alert,” stated a CMO press release.