Four COVID-19 patients in Delhi have tested positive for the new coronavirus strain, the state’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday, ANI reported. In total, India has 25 cases of the new coronavirus strain, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.

The new virus strain was first reported in the United Kingdom

Experts believe this COVID-19 variant to be considerably more contagious than the original strain first detected in China, AFP reported. 

India has banned flights to and from the UK till January 7.

“Flights have been banned and more passengers are not arriving,” Delhi’s Health Minister said on Thursday, ANI reported. “We are tracing and monitoring people who have already arrived,” he added.

Also read: 7 in Karnataka found positive for new coronavirus strain: Health Minister

A number of countries have reported cases of the mutant coronavirus. These include France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Chile and Pakistan.