The cases due Delta plus variant of coronavirus, which has been classified as a "variant of concern" by the Indian government last month, are rising in the country. So far, 56 cases have been found in 12 states, Niti Aayog's Dr VK Paul said on Friday. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, and Haryana have reported Delta plus variant infections.
Meanwhile, Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, on Thursday said that there is not much data available on the Delta plus variant to suggest that it is more infective or has a higher rate of mortality. He advised that if people follow COVID appropriate behaviour and take the COVID-19 vaccination, then they will be safe against any emerging variant.
"There isn't much data on Delta plus variant to suggest it's more infectious, causing more deaths, or has developed significant immune escape mechanism. But if we follow COVID appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated, we'll be safe against any of emerging variants," Dr Guleria told news agency ANI.
Besides, the Delta plus variant of coronavirus is presently not a "variant of concern" for the World Health Organisation (WHO), Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said on Thursday. She added the infection numbers due to the Delta plus variant are still low.
Globally, more than 12 countries have detected Delta plus cases.
