New coronavirus variant detected in India; virus cases in the country dropped below 1 lakh for first time in over two months
NEW DELHI: A new variant of the coronavirus has been identified in India, which is said to be more severe than previous strains detected in the country. The new B.1.1.28.2 variant was found by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune through genome sequencing of samples collected from international travellers.
According to NIV sources, the B.1.1.28.2 variant is more severe than prior forms like as Delta or Kappa, and higher levels of antibodies are required to combat it.
However, NIV scientists said there is no need for panic for the time being because the strain was discovered in people from Brazil and the UK, and no sample sequenced from India has so far detected the B.1.1.28.2 variant.
“We found it earlier but it is not in circulation in the country now so we do not see it as a matter of public health importance,” the sources said.
Like other virus variants, the lungs are more likely to be affected by the B.1.1.28.2 variant. The main distinction is that it can result in weight loss and bad health. It is unclear to what extent the existing vaccines will cope with the new variant.
Government study says Delta variant is the cause of second wave in India
A Central Government study revealed that the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant caused the second wave of COVID-19 in India. The study was conducted in connection with COVID-19 cases reported in different states.
The Delta variant was categorised as a variant of concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) last month. The WHO said it was more dominant than the Alpha variant, which was first detected in the UK last year.
According to reports, variants such as Alpha, Beta (South Africa), and Gamma (Brazil) have caused only minor symptoms, but in the case of the Delta variant, some COVID-19 patients suffered unusual symptoms such as hearing impairment, severe gastric upsets and blood clots.
In the UK, the Delta variant is causing more COVID-19 patients to be hospitalised than before. Over 60 countries have reported the Delta variant of COVID-19.
COVID-19 cases are declining in India
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in India has dipped below 1 lakh for the first time in over two months. As of Tuesday morning, India had registered 86,498 new cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to over 2.89 crore – the lowest rise of daily cases in 66 days.
The number of active cases in the country has continued to fall, and over 2.73 crore people have recovered from the disease. A further 2,123 deaths were reported yesterday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 3,51,309. Many states have eased lockdown restrictions following the decline in cases.
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