India so far has 22 cases of the Delta Plus variant of which 16 are in Ratnagiri and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra, health officials said on Tuesday.
The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday officially declared the delta plus variant of COVID-19 as a ‘variant of concern’. It has also notified Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh to be alert and step up containment measures since the cases of this variant are so far found in certain districts of these states.
Earlier, the government had termed delta plus as a ‘variant of interest’.
Just in : @MoHFW_INDIA categorises the Delta Plus variant as ‘Variant of Concern’ ; directs states to take up immediate containment measures, enhanced testing, tracking and vaccination in clusters where the Delta Plus variant is found @IndianExpress
— Kaunain Sheriff (@kaunain_s) June 22, 2021
On June 15, addressing a health ministry briefing, NITI Aayog Member Dr VK Paul said the Delta Plus variant wasn’t yet a variant of concern in India.
He said a new mutation has been detected called the Delta Plus variant, and it has been there since March in Europe.
India so far has 22 cases of the Delta Plus variant of which 16 are in Ratnagiri and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra, health officials said on Tuesday.
Also Read: Covaxin 77.8% Effective In Phase 3 Trial, Govt Panel Accepts Data: Reports
“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 States Chief Secretaries have been advised to take up immediate containment measures in the districts and clusters (as identified by INSACOG) including preventing crowds & intermingling of people, widespread testing, prompt tracing as well as vaccine coverage on a priority basis.” the press release said.
Meanwhile, experts have already warned the government that the third wave might just be round the corner and the delta variant might trigger the same.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
