BENGALURU: The Centre on Saturday directed Karnataka to redouble containment and testing efforts and increase vaccination coverage where the Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 has been detected.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to Karnataka chief secretary P Ravi Kumar about it on June 25.
Two cases of Delta Plus with mild symptoms have been detected in Mysuru and Bengaluru.
According to health minister K Sudhakar, patients have been isolated and are under treatment.
Their swab samples have been sent for analysis.
Bhusan wrote: “The state has to be more focused and stringent by taking up measures like preventing crowds, intermingling of people, widespread testing, and prompt tracing.” He asked the state to ensure that adequate samples of positive cases be sent to designated laboratories of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) promptly so that clinical epidemiological correlations can be established.
He suggested similar measures to seven other states.
According to INSACOG, the Delta Plus variant has characteristics like increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells, and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.
On Friday, CM BS Yediyurappa met health experts and officials and instructed them to maintain a vigil for the Delta Plus variant, especially in border districts.
The government also proposed setting up genome sequencing labs in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Vijayapura.