The Centre warns Kerala and two other states to be wary of the Delta Plus variant.

The Centre has notified and advised Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh about the ‘Delta Plus variant of SARS-CoV-2, which is currently a variant of concern (VOC) and has been found in some districts of these states.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan informed these three states that the Delta Plus variant was discovered in genome sequenced samples from Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri and Jalgaon districts, Kerala’s Palakkad and Pathanamthitta districts, and Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal and Shivpuri districts.

The Union government has informed these states of INSACOG’s recent findings. INSACOG is a consortium of 28 laboratories affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of Biotechnology, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for whole genome sequencing in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

INSACOG is in charge of not only whole-genome sequencing, but also of providing timely input on appropriate public health response measures to be implemented by states and union territories.

INSACOG is in charge of not only whole-genome sequencing, but also of providing timely input on appropriate public health response measures to be implemented by states and union territories.

According to INSACOG, the Delta Plus variant has increased transmissibility, stronger binding to lung cell receptors, and a potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.

The Union Health Ministry has advised Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh that their public health response measures, while broadly similar to those they had previously implemented, must become more focused and effective.

The Centre has advised the chief secretaries of the three states to take immediate containment measures in the districts and clusters (as identified by INSACOG), such as preventing crowding and intermingling of people, conducting widespread testing and prompt tracing, and prioritising vaccine coverage.

They have also been advised to ensure that adequate samples of positive people are sent to INSACOG’s designated laboratories as soon as possible so that clinical epidemiological correlations can be made and further guidance can be provided to states.