PANAJI: Goa Medical College (GMC) Dean, Dr.
S M Bandekar said that the new variant of Covid-19, Delta-Plus, had not been detected in Goa so far even because the sample was sent regularly for testing to the Pune Laboratory.
“Until now, no one knows how to behave, and even though it seems very contagious, the severity is unknown,” Bandekar said.
“Until then we get our functional genome sequencing machine, we will send samples for testing to Pune.
Many factors are involved in the settings of the genome sequencing machine while the project is in process,” Bandekar replies to requests about when the genome sequence will begin at GMC.
Most of the results received so far have shown the existence of the Delta variant in Goa while the results of several reports are awaited.
Delta-plus variant has been detected in Maharashtra.
At present, the examination is carried out on the border of the Goa.
“What else can be done? It is not possible to do sequencing genomes from all the samples withdrawn,” he said, when asked how Goa can be protected from the latest variants.
He said that if the vaccine proved effective for the Delta variant, it also had to be effective in delta-plus one.
“Everything must take a vaccine because it has been proven during the second wave that people who take vaccines do not suffer from infection severity,” he said.
People’s fear of vaccines, he said, not scientific, and Doostit must consult a doctor.
“In India itself more than six crore people have taken vaccines.” He said that the Expert Committee and the State Task Assignment Committee had begun preparation given the possible third wave.
“Pandemic is a situation like a war.
Most things already exist, but if new problems arise, the solution must be found immediately,” he said.