India has designated the Delta Plus coronavirus variant as a cause for concern after more than two dozen cases were discovered in three states. This is the mutated Delta variant, which was first discovered in India.
The Union health ministry warned Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh about the presence of the Delta Plus variant, which has been labelled a “variant of concern” in some of these states’ districts.
The Union health secretary informed these three states that this variant was discovered in genome sequenced samples from Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri and Jalgaon districts, Kerala’s Palakkad and Pathanamthitta districts, and Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal and Shivpuri districts.
The following is the most recent information on the Delta Plus variant:
- The Delta Plus variant has three characteristics, according to the health ministry: increased transmissibility, stronger binding to lung cell receptors, and a potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.
- The three states’ chief secretaries have been advised to take immediate containment measures in the districts and clusters, including preventing crowding and intermingling of people, widespread testing, prompt tracing, and priority vaccination coverage.
- India is one of nine countries where the Delta Plus variant has been discovered, according to the health ministry. The variant has been found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Poland, Nepal, China, and Russia, according to the report.
- The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, or INSACOG, has identified the variant clusters. The government has informed the states that their samples will be sent to INSACOG’s designated laboratories for analysis based on clinical epidemiological correlations.
- According to the government, there have been 22 cases of the Delta Plus variant of the coronavirus in India, with 16 cases reported from Maharashtra and the rest from Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.
- Dr VK Paul, a member of the Niti Aayog’s Health Committee, said there has been a steady improvement in the pandemic situation, but that people must continue to practise COvid-19-appropriate behaviour and avoid crowds and parties.
- According to Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, India’s daily Covid-19 cases have decreased by nearly 90% since the highest peak reported on May 7.
- He also stated that the weekly positivity rate has dropped by 84 percent since the highest reported weekly positivity of 21.4 percent, which occurred between May 4 and 10.
- India reported 42,640 new infections in the last 24 hours, the lowest number since March 23, and 1,167 deaths.
- According to health ministry data, the number of infections has reached 29.98 million, with 389,302 deaths.
