Indian Records 51 Delta Plus Variant Cases, Maharashtra Leads The Tally

Delta Plus variant cases India: The number of Delta Plus variant cases in India has now jumped to 48, spread across 10 states of the country. Meanwhile, the state of Maharashtra has recorded its first death due to the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus on June 25. An 80-year-old woman, who was suffering from comorbidities from Ratnagiri district, succumbed to the infection. She was among the patients infected by this variant, said state health minister Rajesh Tope.

51 cases of Delta Plus variant of coronavirus detected across 12 states in India, with Maharashtra reporting highest number of cases at 22: Govt

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 25, 2021

As of Friday, 21 cases, highest in the country, of the Delta Plus variant have been detected in Maharashtra, while the national tally stands at 51. Maharashtra is followed by Tamil Nadu (nine), Madhya Pradesh (seven), Kerala (three), two each in Punjab and Gujarat and one each from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka. "These States advised for strengthening surveillance, public health measures," ANI quoted Tope as saying.

Out of 21 Delta Plus #COVID19 variant patients in Maharashtra, one 80-year-old with co-morbidities has died: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope pic.twitter.com/qiSLlLwBjx

— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2021

According to The Indian Express, as a precautionary measure, the Maharashtra government decided to impose stricter restrictions with a "state-level trigger". All administrative units will be placed under a minimum of level three restrictions, irrespective of weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy. Read all about the new restrictions here.

"I have directed officials that the #DeltaPlus variant cases should be monitored closely. Information about these cases should be collected and recorded for study. We are taking 100 samples from every district": #Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope (ANI) pic.twitter.com/NzZxBAGeuB

— NDTV (@ndtv) June 23, 2021

The ‘Delta plus’ variant is a mutated form of the Delta variant or ‘B.1.617.2 variant’ of SARS-CoV-2. It is characterised by a mutation in the spike protein, which helps the virus enter and infect the human cells. In a statement, the state government said that the Delta Plus (or B.1.617.2.1) variant has become a variant of concern because of its increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cell, and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response. Read more here.

Maharashtra Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray tweeted the "levels of restrictions for safe Maharashtra" on Friday:

Levels of restrictions for safe Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/FOAKTSrI9A

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 25, 2021

The Centre however said there are still "very limited" cases of this mutation and it cannot be said that it is showing an upward trend.

Feature Image Credit: Mangalore Today