Vaccination, Enhanced Testing & Containment Measures: Centre's 3-point Advisory On Delta Plus Variant

The major cause of worry with regard to the ‘Delta plus’ variant of Covid-19 is that about 30 cases of 200 confirmed infections detected across the globe are in India and this raises fear that this virus mutant may wreak havoc in near future. 

New Delhi: While on one hand the country emerges from the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, teh recent cases of ‘Delta plus’ variant of Covid-19 has triggered anther reason for experts and governments to worry. 

The new strain Delta Plus contains a K417N mutation in its spike protein, which has been formally designated B.1.617.2.1. Later, the highly transmissible variant of Sars-CoV-2 mutated further into Delta Plus of AY.1 lineage.

The major cause of worry with regard to the ‘Delta plus’ variant of Covid-19 is that about 30 cases of 200 confirmed infections detected across the globe are in India and this raises fear that this virus mutant may wreak havoc in near future. 

On the recent findings of INSACOG, Central government on Tuesday declared the Delta Plus variant of the Coronavirus as a 'variant of concern' in India. The Union Health Ministry has alerted and advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh regarding the Delta Plus variant of COVID19 being found in some districts in these States. 

Advisory On Delta Plus Variant

The central government has alerted Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh that Delta Plus Variant of Covid-19 has been found in genome sequenced samples from Ratnagiri and Jalgaon Districts of Maharashtra; Palakkad and Pathanamthitta Districts of Kerala; and Bhopal and Shivpuri Districts of Madhya Pradesh.  

INSACOG has informed that the Delta Plus Variant, currently a Variant of Concern (VOC), has the following characteristics: Increased transmissibility; Stronger binding to receptors of lung cells, and Potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response. 

The Health Ministry has advised the three states 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 directed o take up immediate containment measures in the districts and clusters identified by INSACOG. The officials have been advised to prevent large gatherings and crowds, and to take widespread testing, prompt tracing as well as vaccine coverage on a priority basis. 

In addition to this, the three states have been advised to ensure that adequate samples of positive persons are promptly sent to the designated laboratories of INSACOG so that clinical epidemiological correlations can be made for further guidance to be provided to States.