 | Two coronavirus variants of interest not found in India yetThe WHO added B.1.621 (including B.1.621.1) to the list of VOI on August 30 and gave it the designation “Mu”. It has mutations that indicate potential immune escape properties. |
 | No cases of new Covid variants Mu, C.1.2 reported in India so far: Genomic consortiumThe weekly bulletin from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) shows that Delta and Delta sub-lineages continue to be the main 'variants of concern'. |
 | Number of COVID-19 breakthrough infections in India within expected numbers: INSACOGIt said that AY.12 that was first noted in Israel and currently driving infection in the country, which has inoculated 60 percent of its population, is not yet seen in India. |
 | Delta sub-lineages unlikely to be more transmissible than parent variant: Government panelIn a recent bulletin, it also said that AY.3 has been identified as a new sub-lineage of Delta and it is defined by 'ORF1a:I3731V common AY.1 mutations except for S:417'. |
 | Delta plus variant: A day after raising concerns, scientists say no need to panicAn independent virologist said that in the wake of the new findings, the government should also reveal it's future strategy. |
 | Third Covid wave: India may not be doing adequate genome sequencing to identify threats quicklySo far, genome sequencing of only about 15,000 samples across India has been carried out while experts say that considering India’s population, this number should have been at least 1 lakh. |
 | 'Highly infectious double mutant B.1.617 found in one-third of all sequenced samples in India'The data shows that the lineage, viewed as responsible for second wave, dominates with 75% of all samples of Variant of Concerns recorded in the country. |
 | CoWIN portal in Hindi, other languages from next week, more labs to monitor COVID variantsHarsh Vardhan informed his colleagues that 17 new laboratories are going to be added to the INSACOG network to increase the number of samples screened and allow for more spatial analysis. |
 | Senior virologist Shahid Jameel quits as Chief Advisor to Centre's Covid genome surveillance projectJameel confirmed to this newspaper his decision to step down from the role, but refused to comment further. |
 | Covid double mutant at least twice as infectious as earlier variants, say Indian scientists"For the public, what needs to be communicated very clearly is that there is a greater need to double mask and maintain social distancing as this virus is highly infectious," a senior scientist said. |
 | Indian double mutant behind second wave: Lab consortiumThe analysis shows that the double mutant is driving the surge in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. |
