Around 60% of samples of the newly detected and contagious Indian variant of the coronavirus, called B.1.617, have been identified in Maharashtra. The double mutant dominates only in certain districts and cities, and not the entire state. 

Scientists have also determined that both Covaxin and Covishield can protect against the strain. During a webinar on ‘Genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-19’, Dr Sujeet Kumar Singh, director of the National Centre for Disease Control, stated that 15,133 samples have been sequenced by the 10 INSACOG laboratories, and among these, 1,196 have been found to have the UK variant, 728 had the B.1.617 or Indian mutation, and 29 had the South African variant. Out of these 728 samples with the Indian variant, 427 were detected in Maharashtra, 124 in West Bengal, 75 in Delhi and 53 in MP, among others…. (ET Healthworld – TNN, April 24, 2021)