Maharashtra reports first death by Delta Plus variant, level 3 restrictions in place

On Friday, Maharashtra reported the first death caused by the Delta Plus variant of the Covid-19 virus. An 80-year-old woman with comorbidities from Ratnagiri district succumbed to the infection, said health minister Rajesh Tope.

Maharashtra fatality takes the total death count by Delta plus variant in the country to 2. Earlier, Madhya Pradesh had reported three cases of this variant. The Union Health Ministry earlier this week alerted Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala, where the initial cases were found.

The delta plus variant has now become a variant of concern (VOC) because of its characteristics. Its increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells, and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response are some of them. With Covid-19’s newest mutant Delta Plus claiming its first victim, the Maharashtra government has decided to make unlocking rules stricter.

According to the latest order, all administrative units, including Pune and Thane, will be placed under a minimum of level 3 restrictions, which implies that the previous permissions to open malls and other public places will be withheld.

Further, shops and other public spaces will now have to close down till 4 pm. The Maharashtra government order read: “Given that the virus causing COVID-19 is undergoing mutations in various geographies and that these mutations are displaying more transmissibility and potential reductions in monoclonal antibody response, a state-level trigger mandating all the administrative units— irrespective of values of the indices of weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy percentage— to remain at a level not below three is to be in operation till withdrawn by specific order of the State Disaster Management Authority.”