New Delhi: India is witnessing a resurgence of COVID-19 infections, with a new sub-variant of the virus detected in three states: Kerala, Maharashtra, and Goa. The emergence of this new strain, coupled with a steady rise in daily cases, has prompted heightened vigilance among health authorities.
According to the Union Health Ministry, Kerala has reported one case of the new sub-variant, while Maharashtra and Goa have reported one and 18 cases, respectively. The variant, which has also been detected in the US, Singapore, and China, has been categorised as a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Experts have cautioned that while the symptoms associated with this new variant appear to be mild at present, the increasing number of cases warrants alertness. They advise individuals to avoid crowded places and adhere to health protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing.
Dr. Ajit Jain, the former COVID nodal officer at Delhi’s Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, emphasised the need to augment genome sequencing to ascertain the extent of the spread of the new variant. He stressed the importance of monitoring the situation closely to determine if the variant has infiltrated the community, necessitating increased surveillance.
Currently, except for Kerala, the situation in other states remains stable, alleviating the need for panic. However, Dr. Jain urged individuals to exercise caution and remain vigilant to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic.
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