India issues SOPs for surveillance of new variant of coronavirus

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ In the wake of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in the United Kingdom, Ministry of Health on Wednesday issued the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at the point of entry and in the community for all international passengers who have travelled from or transited through the country in the past four weeks (from November 25 to December 23).

A press release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus (under investigation) has been reported by the Government of United Kingdom (UK) to World Health Organization (WHO). “This variant is estimated by European Centre for Disease Control to be more transmissible and affecting younger population.

This variant is defined by a set of 17 changes or mutations. One of the most significant is an N501Y mutation in the spike protein that the virus uses to bind to the human ACE2 receptor. Changes in this part of the spike protein may result in the virus becoming more infectious and spreading more easily between people.”