Chennai, June 20(BPNS)

A study on the genome sequencing of the SARS- Cov2 released by the state health department shows that the widespread infection of the disease in Tamil Nadu was caused by the Delta variant of the virus. The statement of the report was released by the Health Department on Sunday.

The World Health Organisation( WHO) has categorized the Delta variant of the Virus as a Variant of Concern( VOC).  The WHO study has also found that it is the main cause of the spread of the disease in India.

According to the TN State health department study, out of the 554 samples tested between December 2020 and May 2021, 386( 70%) samples were found to be Delta variants.( B.1.617.2. This is followed by the Alpha variant at 8.5%.

The Delta variant was predominantly reported among the adolescent and adults above 12 years of age(81%) compared to children (19%). The study also found that the Delta variant was largely seen in community clusters and family clusters.

Tamil Nadu has now brought the Covid -19 under control and relaxations are given in 27 districts of the state with the Western Region still under tough lockdown measures as there is not much of a reduction in cases.

Dr Suchithra Menon, Virologist, while speaking to BPNS said, “World Health Organisation(WHO) has categorized the Delta variant of the SARS-COV2 virus as more transferable than the parent Virus and now the study of the State Public Health Department has found that in Tamil Nadu this variant has caused much of a concern. We should not let our guard down as the possibility of a third wave looms large on the horizon. Vaccination of maximum population, wear masks, safe distancing and hand sanitisation should continue to prevent from the Covid-19 attack.”