India detects total 71 cases of the new UK mutant strain The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the states for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs. PTI Representative image: (Image: Reuters) The number of people who have tested positive for the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the country has climbed to 71, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. These 71 cases include the 58 which were announced by the ministry till Tuesday. "The total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel coronavirus first reported in the UK now stands at 71," the ministry said.