JOIN USNo foreign Covid-19 strain in Maharashtra, says govt
While a new suspected strain of coronavirus found in Vidarbha is being examined in detail, the Maharashtra government has ruled out any evidence of mutated variations of Covid-19 that had surfaced in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil in the state.
“There is no change in the genetic make-up of coronavirus in Amravati, Akola and Yavatmal districts,” the state's Public Health Department said in a press statement on Friday.
It said that four samples each from the three districts and 12 from Pune were tested at the BJ Government Medical College and no genetic mutations are found.
The government has sent more samples from Akola, Amravati and Yavatmal to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) for genome sequencing the reports of which would be available next week.
The new coronavirus mutant strain found in the Vidarbha region’s three districts have compounded concerns in Maharashtra where Covid-19 cases are spiralling yet again.
The new possible strains found were confirmed by Dr Shanhank Joshi, a member of Maharashtra’s Covid-19 task force and Dr Tatyarao Lahane, Director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DEMR).
“New strains were seen in samples collected in Amravati, Akola and Yavatmal,” said Dr Lahane.
According to him, more tests need to be conducted to check the “infectiveness” of the new mutant variety.
However, he said that the spike is not related to the new strain but the laxity of part of the people who were not following the precautions and SOPs.
“The government is fully mindful of it and is looking at it in greater detail,” said Dr Joshi.
“Some geographies in Maharashtra are showing large cluster infections. Seeing disrespect for use of mask and sanitation issues in rural areas. The only silver lining is the low death rate. We cannot afford a lockdown,” added Dr Joshi.