New double mutant Coronavirus strain found in India: Government

Health workers carry a COVID-19 patient to an isolation ward at Government Hamidia hospital in Bhopal on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

A new "double mutant variant" of SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in India, in addition to the several "variants of concern", that have already been found in at least 18 states, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry, however, said it could not be sufficiently established yet if these variants were behind the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in some states.

It said genome sequencing by Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) has identified variants of concerns (VOCs) in several states and a new double mutant variant. Some of these VOCs had been detected earlier abroad.

"Since INSACOG initiated its work, 771 variants of concerns (VOCs) have been detected in a total of 10,787 positive samples shared by states and UTs.

"These include 736 samples positive for viruses of the UK (B.1.1.7) lineage. Also, 34 samples were found positive for viruses of the South African (B.1.351) lineage. One sample was found positive for viruses of the Brazilian (P.1) lineage. The samples with these VOCs have been identified in 18 states of the country," the ministry said.

India recorded 47,262 fresh cases in a day, the highest single-day rise so far this year, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday. The country also added 275 new fatalities, the highest in around 83 days, according to government's data as of 8 am.

1,17,34,058
Total number of cases in the country as of Sunday

1,60,441
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India

1,12,05,160
Patients recovered and discharged in India as of Sunday

5,08,41,286
(Total no. of people vaccinated so far)