India Safe from New Covid Strain Currently: ICMR

The stressing Covid-19 situation became worse in the UK in September 2020 with the detection of a new mutant strain of the novel coronavirus. Current assessment by the experts have found the coronavirus new strain to be more infective as well as 70% more transmissible. However, the good news is that India, as of now, has not detected the new strain.

With the rise of the new coronavirus strain and associated risks, India along with other countries, has exercised a curb on flight services from and to the UK between December 23 to December 31. Addressing the whole situation, Union Health Secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, said, “India, as of now, is safe from the new Covid strain. As a precautionary measure, the suspension of flights has been carried out.”

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), anything related to the new coronavirus strain in the UK has not been found in any of the samples. No evidence of the mutation has been found in samples, whether in the laboratory in National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune or any other across the country.

Under its epidemiological surveillance, India has been performing virus genome sequencing. The purpose of which is following mutations. As per virologists, nothing with regards to the new mutation has been found during the genome sequencing. In the past, even if there has been a mutation, its clinical impact has to be checked. Multiple mutations in Sars-Cov-2 virus have been detected in the past, however, there hasn’t been any clinical impact.

As per the virologists, mutation should not be a cause for concern. The virus may spread faster, but it is not more virulent.