The Government of India said on Tuesday that the Delta plus variant, a mutant form of the Delta strain, has been detected in a total of 22 cases in the states of Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh. The Center added that it is a "variant of concern".

While the deadly second wave of COVID-19 is declining in the country, cases of the Delta plus variant have been identified in Ratnagiri and Jalgaon in Maharashtra, in Palakkad and Pathanamthitta in Kerala and in Bhopal and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh. The government has advised the Chief Secretaries of these states to ensure that containment measures are followed in these districts and clusters, identified by INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia), which involves preventing crowds and mixing of people, quick tracing, extensive testing, and priority vaccine coverage… (NDTV, June 22, 2021)