People wait in an observation area after getting inoculated with a dose of the Covishield AstraZeneca-Oxford’s Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at the Rajawadi Hospital in Mumbai on June 22, 2021. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)
MAHARASHTRA health minister has said that 21 cases of the ‘Delta plus’ variant of Covid-19, considered highly infectious, have been found in the state so far.
Rajesh Tope revealed that the highest nine cases were reported in Ratnagiri, followed by seven in Jalgaon, two in Mumbai, and one case each in Palghar, Thane and Sindhudurg districts.
He added that 7,500 samples from different parts of the state were collected and sent for testing.
These samples were collected since May 15 and their genome sequencing was done, the minister said.
Genome sequencing allows the tracking of small mutations in SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes Covid-19, meaning chains of transmission can be identified.
Tope said complete information about the people detected with the ‘Delta plus’ variant is being sought, including their travel history, whether they were vaccinated or not, and if they were reinfected.
Their contacts are being traced and tested, the minister said, adding that information on the mutation of Delta and Delta plus variants are also being scrutinised.
Last week, the Maharashtra health department has said the newly identified ‘Delta plus’ variant may trigger a third wave of the pandemic in the state.
The new Delta plus variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave in the country.
Though there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, Delta plus is resistant to the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for Covid-19 recently authorised in India.
