Amid
new coronavirus strain scare, the Indian government announced that it has
formed a genomic
surveillance consortium for laboratory and epidemiological surveillance of
circulating strains of the SARS-CoV-2 in the country and 50 samples of returnees from the United Kingdom are
already under
sequencing at the designated laboratories, PTI reported.

“It is proposed to continue enhanced genomic surveillance
for early detection and containment of the UK variant SARS-CoV-2 strains.
However, it is important to understand that like all other RNA viruses,
SARS-CoV-2 will continue to mutate,” the Union Health Ministry said on
Saturday following a meeting
with the National Task Force (NTF).

The genomic surveillance consortium,
INSACOG, has been formed under the leadership of the National Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC). As part of the strategy that has been put in
place to detect and contain the new mutant variant of the virus, 5 % of the positive
cases from all states and UTs will be tested for Whole Genome Sequencing.

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The ministry said that
the new variant can also be contained by measures such as social distancing,
hand hygiene, wearing masks and also by an effective vaccine.

The NTF meeting was held on Saturday with an aim to discuss
evidence-based modifications in testing, treatment and surveillance strategies
for SARS-CoV-2 in view of the recent reports of the emergence of a new variant
strain of the virus from the United Kingdom. It was emphasized that since the
new variant is believe to be more contagious, it is critical to identify
individuals infected with this strain and adequately contain them in order to
prevent its transmission in India.

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It was, however, concluded that there is no need to change the
existing Treatment Protocol in view of mutations emerging in the strain.