July 10, 2021: Amid rising numbers of COVID cases across Northeast, a new worry for the region as at least 138 people from Tripura have tested positive for the deadly Delta plus variant.

“We sent 151 Covid-19 samples to laboratory at Kalyani in West Bengal for genome sequencing. Among them, the Delta Plus variant was detected in 138 samples. The rest 10 have been found to be plain Delta variant and another three as an Alpha variant,” Dr Deep Debbarma, Tripura’s COVID nodal officer told media persons.

The maximum number of 115 cases has been reported from Tripura’s largest West District. Eight cases were detected in Sepahijala district followed by five cases in Gomati, four cases in Unakoti, two cases each in South and North districts, and one case each in Khowai and Dhalai.

“Delta Plus variant is highly infectious than plain Delta. It can infect the lungs,” Subhasish Debbarma, director, health services said. He appealed to people to follow corona guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.

The state government has announced a weekend curfew from 12 pm on Saturday till 6 am on Monday across areas under 13 local urban bodies including Agartala Municipal Corporation.

The Delta plus variant of the SARS-CoV-2 is feared to potentially drive the expected third wave of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in India.