SHILLONG:
The State Government has stated that more than 90% of Covid-19 cases recorded in Meghalaya are of the Delta variant, termed as the 'Variant of Concern' by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to Sampath Kumar, principal secretary of the health and family welfare department, more than 90 percent of Covid-19 cases detected in Meghalaya based on genome-sequencing samples are of the "Delta variant."
This should in itself "be the reason for caution and extra precaution by everyone to safeguard themselves and their loved ones," stated the principal secretary of the health and family welfare department.
The Meghalaya government's admission comes only days after Northeast Now, a media organisation, revealed that the state government appears to be concealing information regarding the identification of the Delta Plus version of COVID-19 in the state.
Previously, Northeast Now stated that the State Government appears to be concealing information in regard to the discovery of the Delta Plus strain of COVID-19 in the State, based on a letter from the Meghalaya Health Department to the DCs of all districts in the State.
The Delta Plus variant, dubbed as the "Variant of Concern" has been discovered in COVID-19 cases detected in the state, according to a letter issued by the Meghalaya Health Department to the Deputy Commissioners of all districts in the state.
Although the Meghalaya Government did not admit that it has detected the Delta Plus variant in the state, it has acknowledged for the first time that 90 percent of cases in the state are of the Delta strain.
"With the anticipated 'third wave' of the pandemic, the welfare of the people should be considered of prime importance," said Sampath Kumar highlighting the importance of administering vaccination against the deadly infectious virus.
Given the increase in cases, the state has been putting out its best efforts to ramp up immunization, notified the health official.
"It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that adequate care is exercised as per the health advisories which are validated by thorough research and scientific validation," he further said.
Kumar further stated that a return to normality and a gradual lifting of the lockdown measures are unavoidable for the sake of people's livelihoods and the economy at large.
"It is of utmost importance that the individual or persons from each household who are venturing outside to work to earn their livelihoods be made to understand the importance of getting them vaccinated and maintain Covid protocols," he said.
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