Over 7K coronavirus mutants are in circulation in India: Report
(PTI desk)
Recent media reports have cited a Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) study to claim that 7,569 coronavirus mutants are in circulation in the country. Meanwhile, Delhi's Lt. Governor Anil Baijal on Monday directed officials to launch cluster-based genome sequencing testing in Delhi as authorities and experts discussed new coronavirus variants at a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, official sources said.
Newly-identified Indian mutants are highly contagious
There was no official confirmation if the mutant variants have emerged in the national capital so far. "The lieutenant governor was told at the meeting that the newly-identified Indian mutants are highly contagious and experts viewed it as a major cause of concern," sources said.
Variants linked to UK, South Africa, Brazil detected in India
"To deal with the new variants, Government will undertake cluster-based genome sequencing testing in Delhi. Testing, tracing, and isolating will be intensified in the coming days," the sources said. Mutant variants linked to the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil have been detected in India so far. The DDMA meeting was chaired by the LG and it was attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Officials directed to take steps to prevent rise in cases
Kejriwal's deputy Manish Sisodia, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, and other senior Delhi Government officers were also present in the meeting. "In the DDMA meeting on Monday, sources said that officials were directed to take steps to prevent a rise in COVID-19 cases in the city, including arrangements for people arriving from Maharashtra and other states that have been witnessing the surge," sources said.
Do not lower your guard, speed up vaccination: LG
"The LG also said there should be no lowering of guard against the coronavirus," the sources added. Baijal also directed officials to speed up the ongoing vaccination drive in the city and ensure the current levels of RT-PCR testing and tracking are sustained.
Public buses, metro to run at previously fixed limited capacities
"It was decided at the meeting that public buses and metro trains in the national capital would run at their current limited capacities for at least two more weeks," the sources said. "Delhi Metro trains and public buses will run at previously fixed limited capacities for now. It is a vigilant wait-and-watch for another two weeks," a source said.
10,901 fatalities in the national capital; cases stand at 6,38,028
Delhi, which has witnessed three waves of COVID-19, has not reported any surge in cases over the last few weeks. On Monday, Delhi recorded 128 new COVID-19 cases and one fatality, even as the positivity rate stood at 0.30 percent. With the latest update in figures, the authorities said, the death toll rose to 10,901 and the number of cases increased to 6,38,028.
Tests conducted and the number of active cases
"The 128 new cases came out of 42,242 tests, that included 31,234 RT-PCR tests and 11,008 rapid antigen tests, conducted on Sunday," a health bulletin said. "The number of active cases stands at 1,041," it showed.
Five states are witnessing a surge in cases
The country has recorded a steady rise in the number of COVID-19 active cases over the past few days with a surge in daily infections in five states - Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab, besides Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir. This has prompted the Centre to direct them to refocus on strict surveillance, containment, and RT-PCR testing.
