Days after the Central government declared the delta plus strain of coronavirus as the “variant of concern”, the Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday, June 29, said there was no need to fear as its characteristics have not been proven, as of yet.
He also mentioned that the government would continue the genome sequencing of more than 3,500 samples of probable Delta Plus variants at least for the next three months.
Moreover, the government is taking various steps like collecting about 100 samples per district for genomic sequencing and they have collected 4,000 such samples till date.
Also Read: BMC to set up a Genome Sequencing Machine at Kasturba Hospital to screen Delta Plus COVID-19 variant
Of the 4,000 samples collected from across the state through genomic sequencing, 21 were found to have been affected by the Delta Plus variant in Maharashtra. Out of the total patients, 20 got discharged and one died. The person who died was 80 years old and had also comorbidities. However, it cannot be exactly said that the death was due to the Delta Plus variant. In such circumstances, there is no need to fear the variant, added Tope.
Also Read: Maharashtra: None of 21 COVID-19 patients with Delta plus variant were vaccinated
Meanwhile, according to a latest report, in the last week, 14 fresh cases have come to light in Maharashtra. According to scientists at the National Institute of Virology in Pune, 14 more Delta Plus variants have been discovered in Maharashtra and 66 in the country.
Tope also urged people to take precautions as their behaviour will determine whether we will get the third wave or it will be delayed.
The total number of active patients in Maharashtra currently stands at 117,098, while the total number of cases right from the COVID-19 outbreak has now reached 6,051,633.
Also Read: Three children recover from Delta Plus COVID-19 infection in Ratnagiri
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