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- Published: December 22, 2020 19:00
New Delhi: At a time when the world is getting some relief from the deadly virus, a new mutation of Covid-19 virus strain found in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far, said Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog
Just after few days when vaccines are getting approved to kill Covid-19, this mutated and more aggressive strain of the novel coronavirus is now have become a major part of the concern.
Addressing a press conference on COVID19 updates, Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog said: “We are in good position and we have to keep this momentum. It will help in suppressing the virus by remaining vigilant. In UK, new mutation of virus has been seen.”
The new strain or mutation of Coronavirus seen in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far: Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog pic.twitter.com/MADa6lCuhx
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2020
Dr Paul said, the new strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom has increased transmissibility. He said, this mutation is not affecting the severity of the disease and case fatality is not affected by this mutation. He said, as of now, it has no impact on the potential of the emerging vaccines.
He also said that there is no cause for concern and no need to panic but there is a need to remain vigilant.
Dr Paul said, “We talked to UK research community and we came to know that the mutation has enhanced the transmissibility rate of the virus. It is being said that 70 per cent transmissibility rate has increased. We can call them that the virus has become super-spreader.”
“This virus mutation is not affecting the severity of the disease, neither the case fatality nor the hospitalization rate. The new strain or mutation of coronavirus seen in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far. There is no cause for concern, no need to panic. As for now, we need to stay vigilant,” he added
Explaining the virus mutation, Dr Paul said: “Mutation means that change in RNA of the virus. The change in the virus is called drift. It has no significance. This behaviour is seen in many virus including this virus.”
As of now, it has no impact on the potential of the emerging vaccines being developed in our country and are available in other countries: Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog on the new strain of COVID19 in the United Kingdom pic.twitter.com/GCT1o2um9v
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2020
Informing about the action taken up the Central government, the NITI Aayog official said, “The government is looking into it. We have robust laboratories and we are studying the genetic structure of thousands of viruses. We have not found the mutation of the virus seen in UK. Since, people are travelling amid pandemic and it was found in Australia and some countries in Europe and hence we have to remain vigilant. The new strain or mutation of Coronavirus seen in the United Kingdom has not been seen in India, so far.”
“Passengers travelling to and from UK have been stopped temporarily till 31 December. Since yesterday, we have started genetic sequencing of The samples which have came in our laboratory recently. We are doing it in a fast speed,” he said.
There is no cause for concern, no need to panic, as for now We need to stay vigilant: Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog on new strain of COVID19 in the United Kingdom https://t.co/lzOKokdNAQ
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2020
“The passengers who have came to India from UK, we are tracing them and checking their health condition and doing their Covid-19 tests. If they found positive for virus, we take their specimen and culture their virus and do genometic sequences,” he added.
“All the incoming passengers are going through RT-PCR tests. We follow the said procedure for them. If anyone found positive we will test the virus and do the genometic sequencing,” he said.
Pointing out that virus mutation cannot affect the development of Covid-19 vaccine, Dr Paul noted: “As of now, the new strain of COVID-19 in UK has no impact on the potential of the emerging vaccines being developed in our country and are available in other countries.”
According to the Union Health Ministry data, India’s active caseload has fallen below 3 lakh (2,92,518) as of Tuesday, the lowest after 163 days.