BHOPAL: Health department heaved a sigh of relief as all 20 people who came in contact with Delta plus infected patients have been tested Covid negative.
Madhya Pradeshís first Delta-plus variant of the Covid virus was identified in Bhopal on Thursday. The Delta-plus is a new variant of the Covid virus and has been formed after mutation from the b.1.617.2. The Delta variant is credited for the second wave in the country .
In other states the health department has said this Delta-plus strain has increased transmitability; so, it may trigger a third wave of Covid
CMHO Dr Prabhakar Tiwari said, "All the 20 persons identified during contact tracing programe have been detected Covid negative. Thus it is almost clear that no other person has been infected with Delta plus variant of coronavirus. However, our team is keeping close vigil on other cases after detection of the new variant."
A 64-year-old woman was infected with the Delta-plus variant. The patient has recovered and discharged from hospital, but as per the protocol, all people who came in contact with her were traced and their samples were sent for testing.
However, the health of her family members is being monitored.
The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, also known as B.1.617.3 strain, has been pinned as the primary driver of the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Now, the Delta variant of the virus has further mutated into the Delta plus or 'AY.1' variant.
According to initial reports, this new Delta plus variant has shown signs of resistance against the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment which was recently approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
