In its weekly bulletin, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium says Delta plus variant does not have significantly increased immune escape properties compared to the Delta variant.
The study is the first to report hospitalisation risk for the Delta vs Alpha variants based on cases confirmed by whole-genome sequencing, the most accurate way to determine the virus variant.
AY.12 is, at present, the most dominant strain in Israel — 51% of samples studied have shown the prevalence of this variant. In India, the first sample of AY.12 was found on 7 Sep 2020.
The ICMR study was conducted on 354 vaccinated patients of whom 241 had taken one dose, and 113 had taken two. Study also included 185 unvaccinated Covid patients.
The study results may fuel calls to give booster shots to the fully vaccinated. While UK is still deciding, US says those who got both doses will get a third shot after 8 months.
New variants like Delta, which are more transmissible and have been shown to evade protections in some cases, are moving the bar for herd immunity near impossibly high levels.
Researchers found the death rate in India among Covid patients with at least one existing health condition was 5.7%, compared to 0.7% in those otherwise healthy.
The Delta Plus variant, also known as AY.1 and designated as a variant of concern in India, has been detected in the genome sequence of a Mumbai woman who died of Covid on 27 July.
The 63-year-old woman was fully vaccinated and died in July. Her 6 close contacts have tested positive for Covid, of which two are infected with Delta+ variant, according to BMC.
Delhi Health Minister Jain also said Centre has not yet asked for data on deaths due to shortage of oxygen and that a new sero survey will be undertaken in the national capital soon.
Once seen as a fading presence on India’s investment & startup picture, the state is slowly moving up the ladder, with policy reforms & infrastructure building.
Agreement signed during 17th Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Director General in Israeli Ministry of Defence Amir Baram Tuesday.
This world is being restructured and redrawn by one man, and what’s his power? It’s not his formidable military. It’s trade. With China, it turned on him.
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