India detects new variant of COVID-19: Health Ministry
Posted on: 24/Mar/2021 3:38:07 PM - No. of views : (3885)
Just following the last few days of the definite resurgence of the raging coronavirus pandemic in the country, the Union Ministry of Health has confirmed on Wednesday (today, 24th March), that there is a new variant of the COVID-19 - that has been detected. This is in addition to the several other variants of concern (VOC) detected abroad.
Ina special statement released in this regard, the Ministry of Health informed: �These mutations have been found in about 15-20% of the samples and do not match any previously catalogued VOCs.�
It further informed that so far, 771 variants of concern has been detected in a total of 10787 positive samples shared by the States & the Union Territories.
The samples with these VOCs have been identified in 18 states of the country.
The notification further stated:
�Though VOVs and a new double mutant variant have been found in India, these have not been detected in numbers sufficient to either establish a direct relationship or explain the rapid increase in cases in some states.�
�Genomic sequences and epidemiological studies are continuing to further analyse the situation.�
Meanwhile, India has crossed a significant milestone of administering over 5 Crores vaccines (50841286) and more than 23 Lakhs vaccine doses were given in the last 24 hours.
On Wednesday (today, 24th March), India reported 47262 new COVID-18 cases, 23907 recoveries, and 275 deaths.
With this, the total infection cases in the country have increased to 11734058 including 368457 active cases and 11205160 recoveries. The death toll has gone up to 160441!
