Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, State Health Minister, Rajesh Tope asserted that the eight people infected with the new strain of the coronavirus have not spread the disease to the others who have come in contact with them.
Talking about the same, Tope added that the new variant can spread 70 per cent faster. He further informed that contact tracing of eight new patients has started in the state. “No one in their contact has yet been found positive. If anyone is found to be positive, they will need to be tested for a new type of coronavirus.” Rajesh Tope said in a statement.
The new variant, which scientists have named “VUI – 202012/01” includes a genetic mutation in the “spike” protein that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus uses to infect human cells. According to British researchers and public officials, the virus happens to be more transmissible than other versions of the coronavirus with estimates ranging from 50 per cent to 70 per cent more infectious.
Meanwhile, on January 5, Maharashtra recorded 3,160 fresh cases of the coronavirus taking the COVID-19 tally in the state to 19,50,171. At present, there are 49,067 active cases in the state. With 2828 COVID-19 patients discharged in the day, the number of recovered soared to 18,50,189. On the other hand, Mumbai continues to be a major novel coronavirus hotspot with 539 new cases recorded in the day. The COVID-19 positivity rate, recovery rate and fatality rate in Maharashtra stand at 14.93 per cent, 94.87 per cent, and 2.55 per cent respectively.
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