India has 56 cases of Delta Plus Covid-19 variant in 12 states

New Delhi: India currently has 56 cases of Delta Plus variant of coronavirus in 12 states, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said.

The Union government on Friday stressed on vaccination and following Covid-19 protocols as it noted that the second wave of the pandemic is not over yet and people should not lower their guard.

Though daily new Covid-19 cases continue to show a declining trend, 71 districts reported a case positivity rate of more than 10 per cent from June 23 to 29, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said at a press conference.

“The second wave of Covid-19 is not over yet,” he said.

Dr V K Paul said, “We are not safe till the entire nation is safe. There cannot be a lowering of guard. Virus keeps evolving.”

He said multi-disciplinary teams of the Central government have been sent to Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Manipur in view of high number of Covid-19 cases being reported daily by these states.

About tackling a possible third wave of Covid-19 infection, Paul said, “We will be prepared for the third wave in rural areas and for children with testing facilities, ventilators, medicines and containment measures.”

“At the same time, if we are disciplined then the third wave will not come.”

Responding to criticism over the pace of the vaccination drive, Agarwal stressed that on average India is vaccinating 50 lakh individuals daily since June 21, and it is equivalent to inoculating the entire population of Norway every day.