While the government has started the vaccine drive, there’s a new cause of concern. A new double mutant COVID-19 variant has been discovered in India.
The Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare has confirmed that in addition to the double mutant COVID-19 variant, several new Variants of Concern (VOC) have also been found across 18 states and Union Territories. However, the ministry is yet to confirm if the new variant is behind the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in India.
Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is carrying out genomic sequencing and analysis of circulating COVID-19 vaccine. There has been an increase in the fraction of samples with E4840 and L452R mutation. As many as 771 VOCs have been found in India.
Meanwhile, the government has announced that all above the age of 45 will get COVID-19 vaccine from April 1.
