The first case of Covid-19 infection from the coronavirus variant from South Africa has been detected in Karnataka, the state health department said in its bulletin on Wednesday. Till March 10, a total of 64 United Kingdom returnees have tested positive during RT-PCR tests. A total of 26 primary contacts of these 64 people have also tested positive during RT-PCR tests, the health department said.

As per results of tests done on international passengers till March 10, one person was tested positive for the South African strain of Covid-19 virus. A mutation of the Covid-19 virus was discovered in South Africa and announced in December 2020. Previously in September 2020 a UK strain of the virus had emerged.