Kappa Variant Of COVID Detected In UP

Lucknow: Two cases of the highly transmissible Kappa variant of COVID-19 were detected in Uttar Pradesh after genome sequencing samples returned positive at King George Medical College here, according to an official statement released on Friday.

The Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 was found in 107 samples, the statement added.

“Both the variants are not new for the state. The facility of genome sequencing is being increased in the state,” the statement said.

Genome sequencing is a laboratory process that is instrumental in characterising the mutations and tracking disease outbreaks.

At present, the daily positivity rate in the state is 0.04 per cent.

When asked about the Kappa variant, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said earlier also cases of this variant were found in UP. “There is nothing to worry about. This is a variant of coronavirus and its treatment is possible,” Prasad was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.