"Steps will be taken to protect you and your family," says: CM Kejriwal on the rise of B.1.1.529

Precautionary measures are taken in Delhi to combat the new variant of the COVID-19 virus

New Delhi: India is still suffering from the impact of the pandemic. Recently, the globe has identified a new variant of the COVID-19 virus.  Taking notes, the capital is has initiated many preventions. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for a meeting of medical and scientific experts Monday in light of "the threat from (the) new Covid variant from African countries".

According to the officials, experts will make a presentation to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), to suggest steps to protect the national capital from the B.1.1.529 strain of the coronavirus.

In a tweet, the Chief Minister wrote that "In view of the threat from (the) new COVID-19 variant from African countries, we have requested experts to make a presentation to DDMA on Monday, and suggest what steps we should take. We will take all steps necessary to protect you and your family."

The new variant of the COVID-19 virus is listed as B.1.1.529. It was first identified in South Africa this week, the strain has spread to nearby countries, including Botswana, where fully vaccinated people have been infected. In South Africa over 100 cases have been linked to this variant, with several more in Botswana.

The new coronavirus variant - B.1.1.529 - has been red-flagged by scientists over an alarmingly high number of spike mutations that might make the virus more resistant to vaccines, increase transmissibility and lead to more severe symptoms.

The new variant has 50 mutations, over 30 of which are on the spike protein and 10 of which are on the receptor-binding domain. Researchers are still trying to confirm what this means for the virus' vaccine evasion and transmission capabilities, but medical experts have sounded alerts.

Delhi was among the most badly affected cities in the country during the peak of the second Covid wave when hospital beds were hard to find and patients died because of a lack of oxygen.

The city has recorded more than 14.4 lakh cases, with more than 25,000 deaths linked to the virus.