One Brazil returnee has additionally examined constructive for the Brazil variant of SARS-CoV-2 within the first week of February as per the well being ministry
Representation picture. PTI
Four folks had been detected with the South Africa variant of SARS-CoV-2 in India in January, whereas one examined constructive for the Brazil variant pressure within the first week of February, the Centre mentioned on Tuesday.
Addressing a media briefing on the COVID-19
scenario in India, ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava mentioned that the South Africa pressure in India has been detected in 4 returnees – one from Angola, one from Tanzania and two from South Africa in January.
All travellers and contacts have been examined and quarantined.
“The ICMR-NIV is attempting to isolate and culture the SA variant strain from the samples of these four individual returnees,” he mentioned.
One Brazil returnee has examined constructive for the Brazil variant of SARS-CoV-2 within the first week of February. The traveller and contacts have been examined and quarantined.
He additionally mentioned that the South African and Brazilian variant was completely different from the UK one and that experiments had been underway to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines on them
The well being ministry additionally mentioned all the principles for travellers from the UK — unfavorable experiences and RT-PCR assessments for each passenger — are prone to be adopted for flights from South Africa and Brazil, experiences LiveNews360.
Meanwhile, the quantity of people that have examined constructive for the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 within the nation has climbed to 187. There have been no deaths on account of that pressure.
“We have been able to culture and isolate this strain and test the efficacy of the vaccine,” he mentioned.
A really shut watch is being saved on these variants, he careworn.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan mentioned as of 16 February until 1 pm, 87,40,595 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered within the nation of which a complete of 62,82,646 healthcare employees have been vaccinated.
The first dose has been given to 61,11,968 (60.5 p.c healthcare employees) and the second dose have been given to 1,70,678 healthcare employees which quantity to 37.5 p.c of eligible vaccinations, he mentioned.
Bhushan clarified that the eligible individuals are these vaccinated on 16, 17 and 18 January as solely they turn into eligible for the second dose.
“For others, the second dose is not due. The efficacy of vaccination must be judged on the fact that what proportion of people were due for the second dose and out of that how much population has been covered,” he mentioned.
He additional mentioned a complete of 24,57,949 frontline employees have been vaccinated which is 26.three p.c.
Bhushan mentioned 14 states and UTs have administered the primary dose to greater than 70 p.c of registered healthcare employees which is larger than the nationwide common of 60 p.c.
These states embrace Rajasthan (70.09 p.c), Sikkim (70.09 p.c), Jharkhand (71.25 p.c), Kerala (71.28 p.c), UP (73.58 p.c), Madhya Pradesh (75.16 p.c) and Bihar (80.92 p.c).
While 11 states advert UTs together with Delhi (42.36 p.c), Punjab (36.42 p.c), Andhra Pradesh (49.09 p.c) and Karnataka (49.96 p.c), have administered the primary dose to lower than 50 p.c of registered healthcare employees.
“We have asked these states to organise more sessions to increase their coverage,” he mentioned.
About the second dose, Bhushan mentioned eight states and UTs, together with Goa (100 p.c), Jharkhand (68.three p.c), Assam (69.7 p.c), UP (81.2 p.c), Gujarat (86 p.c), have administered the second COVID vaccine dose to greater than 60 p.c of the eligible healthcare employees.
With inputs from PTI
