The Centre on Tuesday called the Delta plus strain of the coronavirus as a “variant of concern” , hours after Health Secretary Rajesh Bhus...
The Centre on Tuesday called the Delta plus strain of the coronavirus as a “variant of concern”, hours after Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and NITI Aayog (Health) member VK Paul said it was only a “variant of interest”, reported The Hindu.
A “variant of concern” has the highest threat perception among other coronavirus variants because of its increased transmissibility, infectivity, or resistance to vaccines. The threat perception for a “variant of interest” is comparatively lower.
On June 14, the World Health Organization had classified the Delta variant as a “variant of concern”. The Delta plus variant, formally known as AY.1 or B.1.617.2.1, is a mutation of the Delta variant. Acknowledging the existence of the Delta plus variant, Paul, chairperson of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 in India, had said on June 15 that it was a “variant of interest”.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Bhushan referred to the Delta plus variant as a “variant of concern.” “Delta plus is in nine countries and as of now is in the category of variant of interest and is not yet in the variant of concern category,” said Bhushan.
Paul also called the Delta plus strain to be a variant of interest “but not yet one of concern”, according to News18. “We have to assess...
