THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister KK Shailaja confirmed that 6 cases of the mutant variant of COVID-19 have been detected in Kerala.

"Six people who recently returned from the UK have tested positive for the new strain.We have placed them under surveillance. Their samples had been sent to NIV, Pune and results received today," the minister said. Among the infected persons, 2 each are from Kozhikode and Alappuzha while 1 each are from Kannur and Kottayam. The health minister said that extreme caution should be exercised and those coming from abroad should report voluntarily. The six are under isolation and observation, the minister added.