While India is battling the second wave of the coronavirus disease pandemic (Covid-19), it is also battling the spread of the Delta variant , which has further mutated into Delta plus. Delta plus, also known as AY.1 variant or B.1.617.2.1, is the most deadly type of Covid-19, according to an article by HT’s sister publication Livehindustan.
Three states - Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh - are reporting cases of the delta plus variant in the country.
Maharashtra:
On Monday, state health minister Rajesh Tope announced that 21 cases of the Delta plus variety had been reported in the state. Nine were from Jalgaon, seven from Mumbai, and one from each of the districts of Sindhudurg, Thane, and Palgarh.
Tope said the Maharashtra government has taken a decision with regard to genome sequencing and has started the process of taking 100 samples from each district, adding the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) is being involved in this process. “Since May 15, 7,500 samples have been taken in which about 21 cases of delta plus have been found,” he said.
Madhya Pradesh:
The first case of the Delta plus variant was reported in a 64-year-old woman from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The woman, who has taken two shots of anti-coronavirus vaccine, recovered in home isolation, sources added.
Kerala:
Kerala also reported cases of Delta plus variant of COVID-19. At least three cases of SARS-CoV-2 Delta-plus variant have been found in samples collected from Kerala’s Palakkad and Pathanamthitta district, officials said on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh that the Public Health Response measures, while broadly remaining the same as have been implemented by them earlier, have to become more focused and effective.
The three states’ state secretaries have been advised to take immediate containment measures in the districts with clusters, as identified by the Covid genomic surveillance network INSACOG, such as preventing crowds, intermingling of people, and mass testing, according to the alert.
COVID-19 current situation in India:
For the previous five days, India’s daily Covid count has remained below 1 lakh. Seeing improvement in the Covid situation, numerous states have eased lockdown restrictions and are moving toward restricted unlocking of several activities.
