U.K. variant in 14 samples from community clusters
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A complete of 14 samples that have been lifted from community clusters that surfaced in some elements of the State and have been despatched for entire genome sequencing (WGS), have returned constructive for the U.K. variant of COVID-19.
(*14*) to official knowledge, eight samples from the Thanjavur college cluster (two every from faculties in Ammapettai, Kulichapatti and Thiruvisainallur, and one every from faculties in Thalavapalayam and Puthur); two samples from the Commercial Tax Staff Training Institute, Nandanam; two from the Omandurar Medical College; and two from the IT cluster – AGS Health Pvt Limited, Kandanchavadi and Taramani, have been referred to InSTEM, Bengaluru for WGS. The 14 samples returned constructive for the U.K. variant.
Earlier, public well being officers determined to ship randomly chosen samples from clusters for WGS.
A complete of 69 COVID-19 samples from community clusters have been referred for WGS. The outcomes of 14 samples have been obtained, whereas these of 55 others are pending.
All 14 cluster samples have been examined on the State Public Health Laboratory, and it was discovered that the S-gene (spike protein) was lacking in them.
Further evaluation
“This finding needs further analysis. We need to work with academic institutions like the Indian Council of Medical Research,” T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, mentioned.
The State has thus far referred 127 RT-PCR-positive samples to InSTEM, Bengaluru, and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for WGS. These have been samples lifted from U.K. travellers and their contacts, and community clusters.
Of these, the State has obtained the outcomes of 62 samples, whereas these of 65 others are awaited.
A complete of 29 samples — 15 from U.K. travellers and their contacts and 14 from community clusters — returned constructive for the U.K. variant. Another 25 samples returned unfavourable for the variant, whereas the outcomes of eight samples have been inconclusive, based on the information.
“Since control measures, including treatment, remain the same, there is no need to panic. Wear masks, maintain physical distance and take the vaccine as per eligibility,” Dr. Selvavinayagam mentioned.
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