Bhubaneswar: The UK mutant strain of the COVID-19 virus has been found in three persons in Odisha. The genome sequencing of the persons was done by the designated labs in India.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gave this information Wednesday. It also said that the UK COVID-19 strain have been detected in 736 persons from 18 states including Odisha.
The NCDC however, said that so far no strain of South African, Brazilian and Japanese strains have been detected in Odisha. The institute informed that these three major strains were responsible for the sudden rise of COVID-19 cases across India.
The information was confirmed by SK Singh, director general of NCDC. “The UK variant was linked to surge in cases in the United Kingdom. Ten labs in India worked together with ICMR and other organisations to conduct the genome sequencing of the infected samples,” Singh stated.
“There were three mutant strains which mainly came from international travellers and is believed to have caused a surge in the number of cases of the pandemic. There are evidences of increase in transmission potential from these three variants,” he added.
The Odisha government however said that the strain was detected in December from patients who returned from England. Health department Additional Secretary Pradipta Mohapatra said the incidents were reported in December and was not made public to prevent panic creeping in.
The Centre in their official briefing on COVID- 19 said that Odisha is not among the top 11 states where the second dose vaccination for frontline workers had crossed 90 per cent. So far it is among the top nine states where 80 per cent vaccination has been completed for frontline workers.
Notably, Night curfew will be imposed in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district from March 25 until further orders in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Odisha reported Wednesday 170 new COVID-19 infections, the state’s highest spike in the last 45 days. Of the new cases, 99 were reported from quarantine centres, while the remaining 71 were detected during contact tracing, a health department official said.
The fresh cases included 27 from Nuapada, 23 each from Cuttack and Khurda and 22 from Sundargarh districts. This has prompted Nabarangpur district officials to impose night curfew (8.00pm to 6.00am) from Thursday.
Movement of individuals will be strictly prohibited during the night.
PNN