India has now reported the first death from the “Delta Plus” variant of COVID-19.
India is starting to reopen after a deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections last April and May, but some experts have warned of another wave of infections could happen.
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Ratnagiri district official Sanjay Shinde said an 80-year-old elderly woman died in a hospital in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra state.
It comes after Madhya Pradesh state reported its first death linked to the Delta Plus variant.
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At least 48 coronavirus cases linked “Delta Plus” variant have been detected from 45,000 samples sequenced so far in India, with Maharashtra getting the highest number of Delta variant cases at 20.
According to India’s Union Health Ministry, the Delta Plus variant is classified as variant of concern(VOC) with increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and may potentially reduce antibody response. (RA)
