Rahul Gandhi questions Centre over no large-scale testing to prevent 'Delta+' variant

The Delta Plus variant is a mutated form of Delta or B.1.617.2 variant and its severity is still unknown.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday questioned the Centre that why large-scale testing is not being done in order to prevent and keep a check on the spread of the new Covid-19 variant, that is, Delta plus variant. He even raised questions about the effectiveness of the vaccines against it and the government's plan to control and prevent it from forming the third wave. ''Questions to the Modi government on Delta plus variant: Why is testing not being done on a large scale to check and prevent it? How effective are the vaccines against it and when will complete information be available? What is the plan to control it in the third wave of the virus,'' Mr Gandhi tweeted in Hindi on his Twitter handle. Many experts have identified this new variant as more infectious than the previous one, Delta variant of Covid-19 that was first identified in India and was the cause of deadly second wave in the country. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has recognized the Delta Plus variant as a "Variant of Concern (VOC)" which has characteristics of increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells, and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response. The Delta Plus variant is a mutated form of Delta or B.1.617.2 variant and its severity is still unknown.