New Coronavirus strain found in Andhra, 15 times more dangerous

With Andhra Pradesh reeling severely under the Covid-19 crisis, health officials suspect that the N440K variant, discovered by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), might be the reason behind the rapid deterioration of the health conditions of Covid patients in the last few days, in Visakhapatnam as well as other parts of the state.

The new Covid variant, named as the AP strain, which was identified in Kurnool district, is believed to be 15 times more deadly and stronger than other Indian variants.

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, on Tuesday took several key decisions, including imposition of partial curfew in the state, with effect from Wednesday, to tackle the Covid spread.