The Karnataka Health department was concerned over the development of 12 passengers arriving from high-risk countries testing positive for COVID-19 at the KempeGowda International Airport Bengaluru, sources confirmed on Monday.

According to authorities, a 37-year-old man, who arrived from China, had tested positive for COVID at the Bengaluru airport. The other eleven passengers came from high-risk countries. Four have been quarantined in a private hospital, and the rest have been put under home isolation.

All the samples have been sent to genomic sequencing to the National Institute of Virology, and the results are expected by Monday evening or Tuesday morning. The 37-year-old man, who arrived from China, hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Agra.

The Authorities informed that all the twelve passengers were subjected to COVID tests after arriving at the airport in the last three days.

The state health department was concerned about the development and awaiting results of the genome sequencing. Minister for Revenue R. Ashok stated that the new COVID guidelines would be released by Monday evening or on Tuesday morning.

Considering the evolving situation in the state, the government has called a high-level meeting this afternoon. Minister Ashok added that preventive measures would be discussed in the meeting, and there was no need to panic.

Health Minister Dr K. Sudhakar appealed to the people to wear masks in public places and crowded areas.