Kappa variant of Covid-19 detected in Uttar Pradesh

Two cases of Kappa variant of coronavirus have been detected in Uttar Pradesh, as per an official statement issued today. Currently, the daily positivity rate in UP is 0.04%.

A genome sequencing of 109 samples done at King George's medical college in Lucknow has returned 107 confirmed samples of highly infections Delta variant of Covid-19, and also carried two samples of the Kappa variant.

"Both the variants are not new for the state. The facility of genome sequencing is being increased in the state," the statement issued after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's routine review meeting said.

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," he added.

Meanwhile, 10 more people succumbed to coronavirus in the state, bringing the toll to 22,676, while the infection count reached 17,07,044 on Thursday with the detection of 112 fresh cases.

Of the new fatalities linked to Covid-19, three were reported from Etah; two each from Amethi and Shahjahanpur; one each from Siddharthnagar, Pratapgarh, Moradabad, the UP government said.

Eleven of the fresh Covid-19 cases were recorded in Varanasi, nine in Lucknow and eight in Kanpur Nagar, it said.