According to sources, there are over 40 cases in the country of the new Delta Plus, which has been flagged as a “Variant of Concern”.
According to sources, there are over 40 cases in the country of the new Delta Plus, which has been flagged as a “Variant of Concern” by the government, NDTV reported.
Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh have been sent a warning by the government yesterday over Delta Plus cases found in these states.
As per sources, there are 21 cases in Maharashtra, six in Madhya Pradesh, three in Kerala, three in Tamil Nadu, two in Karnataka and one each in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu.
The cases with infection of Delta Plus variant are emerging at a time when large parts of India are ending severe lockdowns and restrictions with Covid cases on the decline .
Delta Plus cases have been found in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri and Jalgaon; in Palakkad and Pathanamthitta in Kerala; and in Bhopal and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, according to the government’s advisory on Tuesday.
VK Paul, the head of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration, told reporters: “The Centre has sent an advisory to these states about their public health response. The measures, while broadly remaining the same as have been implemented by them earlier, have to become more focused and effective. We don’t want this small number to take a bigger form.”
With a very little information on this new strain in public domain, it has been found in nine countries – US, UK, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Poland, Russia and China besides India.
According to INSACOG ((Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia), the Delta Plus shows “increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and potentially reduced monoclonal antibody response”.
While the two vaccines being used in India, Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, are effective against the Delta variant, data on how they work on the Delta Plus would be shared later, the government said.
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