There is rising speculation about what ‘Delta Plus’ or AY.1, the new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can do. VK Paul, chief of the national Covid Task Force, has said that, at present, there is no scientific data to suggest that the COVID19 vaccines are less effective against it. 

Three Covid vaccines — Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Russia’s Sputnik V — are being used for inoculation in India. 

Paul also stated that there isn’t enough evidence in India to deduce that the variant is highly infectious. 

Explained: Delta Plus variant — how risky is it? Are COVID19 vaccines effective?

In an interview with the news agency PTI, Paul, who is also a member of the NITI Aayog, stated that another COVID19 wave of any magnitude would be dependent upon several factors, including overall discipline in terms of Covid-appropriate behaviour, testing and containment strategies, and the rate of vaccination.

Meanwhile, India recorded 37,566 new Coronavirus cases in the 24 hours ending 8 am today. This is the lowest single-day rise in cases since March 17. Less than 40,000 daily cases have been recorded after a stretch of 102 days. 

Explained: How likely is it to get COVID19 by touching contaminated surfaces?

Kerala was the biggest contributor to the number of cases today, as it added 8,063 cases, followed by Maharashtra that reported 6,727 cases.

WHO asks vaccinated people to continue wearing masks

Meanwhile, worried by the outbreak of the delta variant across the world, the World Health Organization(WHO)  has suggested that vaccinated persons continue wearing masks. This practice had been discontinued in some places abroad, and those who had been vaccinated were told they could go without masks. 

Mariângela Simão, the WHO’s assistant director-general for access to medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, emphasised that vaccinated people should continue to consistently wear masks, avoid crowds and maintain social distance from others, make sure they are in well-ventilated spaces, wash their hands frequently, and follow COVID-appropriate behaviour.

Explained: Why Covaxin is not approved by WHO? Why USFDA rejected its emergency use? Will it affect international travel?

“What we’re saying is, ‘Once you’ve been fully vaccinated, continue to play it safe, because you could end up as part of a transmission chain.’ You may not actually be fully protected,” Bruce Aylward, a senior adviser to the WHO was quoted as saying.

Aylward added, “I think the first message we want to be careful about is saying, ‘Once you’re vaccinated, you can just go ahead and do whatever.’”