It seems that the month of July will keep the country busy in yet another round of face-off with coronavirus which has now got a new general in its ranks- the Delta Plus variant (AY.1). Just a few days ago, reportedly there were 3 states having the variant’s presence. But on Friday, the Centre said that it’s now in as many as 12 states affecting more than 50 and also killing a few. With the enemy knocking at doors, arguably with a more-lethal stock of arsenal, it remains to be seen what the ‘response pattern’ turns out to be. Among the many ‘insights’ the one and a half year plus battle against the virus has given, it’s the right beginning that has turned out to be a factor carrying far-reaching consequences. To be more specific, in the unending game of mutating of coronavirus, among all the first-hand responses, it will be genome sequencing that will be most important. It can be recalled that during the intervening stage (period sandwiched between 1^st wave’s waning and 2^nd one’s emergence), India didn’t care to conduct enough genome sequencing, resulting in an unhindered spread of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2), leading to the rise of the graph in a shape unparalleled anywhere in the world in terms of Covid 2.0.

A small piece of data will show how the go-slow attitude in conducting genome sequencing caused a fast spread of the Delta variant. According to Union Health Ministry’s data, it was present in 52 districts across the country in March, but by June it penetrated in as many as 174 districts. In a press briefing on Friday, the WHO chief has warned that being the most-transmissible of all variants (so far), the countries which will suffer most are the ones that are lagging in vaccination. In the light of this statement, nothing new needs to be added to explain India’s current global rank in terms of full vaccination coverage. Everything is still in the stage of making- vaccine production will be ramped up and new brands will arrive taking daily inoculations to 1 cr mark (gradual fall from June 21’s 88+lakh to lesser figures in the following days must have caught attention of many) and the country will be Covid-free within 2021. Facts are facts and are necessary to refer to time and again to mirror the realities. Currently, around 75 districts have a more than 10 % prevalence rate and 92 more with a 5-10%, a reminder that 2^nd wave is alive.

Arrival of Delta Plus has compounded the criticality. A late start in genome/sample sequencing might invite more trouble. Arunachal Pradesh must take this factor with utmost seriousness.