48 Delta Plus COVID cases reported in India, highest from Maharashtra

The number of confirmed cases of the Delta Plus variant of the coronavirus in India has risen to 48, the government said on Friday, with the state of Maharashtra reporting the highest number of them at 20. 

Government sources told ANI that deaths of two Delta positive cases were reported on Friday in Madhya Pradesh, who had not taken vaccines.

In the light of the Delta plus variant of the virus emerging in Maharashtra, the state government announced a ‘state-level trigger’ to impose restrictions in administrative units irrespective of positivity rates and the percentage of oxygen bed occupancy.

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According to the new guidelines issued by the state government, the level of restrictions in administrative units will remain to be at least three, reported PTI.

The move is an indication of tightening the COVID-19 restrictions and protocols to curb a further surge in cases. The Government of India earlier called Delta plus “a variant of concern”. Maharashtra’s announcement amends the initial move of a five-level unlock plan that was announced earlier in the month.

Delta plus cases have been found in Ratnagiri, Jalgaon and some other districts of the state, requiring stricter curbs, the notification said.

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State-level trigger means that irrespective of the weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy, level 3 restrictions will continue in administrative units till the district disaster management authority takes a call to withdraw them, according to the notification.

Essential shops and establishments can remain open till 4pm on all days in areas falling under level 3 of the five-step unlock plan. Non-essential shops and establishments can remain open till 4pm on weekdays, it said.