NEW DELHI: The new strain of Coronavirud found in the UK has so far not been seen in India, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
“No significant mutation has yet been detected in the coronavirus strain in India,” the Health Ministry reported, adding that there is no cause for concern at the moment.
“The mutated strain of SARS-CoV-2 detected in the UK has increased transmissibility, but this mutation does not affect disease severity or lethality,” the Health Ministry said at a news conference.
Earlier today, the government issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for people who have recently traveled to the UK. The ministry in its statement also warned that changes in the spike protein of the virus can cause the virus to become more infectious and spread more easily between people.
“As of now, it has no impact on the potential of emerging vaccines that are being developed in our country and available in other countries,” said NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr. VK Paul. The Health Ministry urged people not to panic, but also stressed the need to stay alert.
“No significant mutation has yet been detected in the coronavirus strain in India,” the Health Ministry reported, adding that there is no cause for concern at the moment.
“The mutated strain of SARS-CoV-2 detected in the UK has increased transmissibility, but this mutation does not affect disease severity or lethality,” the Health Ministry said at a news conference.
Earlier today, the government issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for people who have recently traveled to the UK. The ministry in its statement also warned that changes in the spike protein of the virus can cause the virus to become more infectious and spread more easily between people.
“As of now, it has no impact on the potential of emerging vaccines that are being developed in our country and available in other countries,” said NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr. VK Paul. The Health Ministry urged people not to panic, but also stressed the need to stay alert.
India on Monday joined several other countries in suspending all passenger flights connecting to the UK from Wednesday to December 31.
The new variant of the SARS-CoV 2 virus has been reported by the UK Government to the World Health Organization. The European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) estimates that this variant is more communicable and affects the younger population.
The new variant is said to be 70 percent more transmissible, although health experts say there is no evidence that it is more deadly or would react differently to vaccines.
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