OLD GOA
Stating that no case of the Covid Delta Plus variant is detected in the State, GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said the behaviour of this variant is not known for the moment.
“Delta Plus is not detected in Goa. As of now, nobody knows the behaviour of this virus. It is said to be highly infectious but the severity is not known,” Dr Bandekar said, while answering queries of the media during his visit to the Mandur Rural Health and Training Centre (RHTC) on Wednesday.
“But if Delta Plus is detected, we will send it to NIV till the time we get our own sequencing machine, for which the process is on. There are lots of factors involved in the procurement of sequencing machine,” he informed.
Speaking on a possible third Covid wave, Dr Bandekar said it is most likely to affect those who have not been infected like children, adolescent groups and population in peri-urban areas.
“The steering committee is working on tackling a possible third wave. We can vouch that we are 80-85 percent prepared to tackle it as we have the experience of the second wave. But if some new things arrive, then we will have to be prepared immediately,” he added. On the effectiveness of vaccines on Delta Plus, Dr Bandekar said, “If the vaccine is effective on the Delta variant, then it will be effective on Delta Plus as well.”
He further informed that vaccination was very important because it was seen in the second wave that those persons who received jabs had no severity of Covid.
“The fear of the people on vaccines is not scientific. They should consult experts and take their opinion,” Dr Bandekar said.
