(Image source from: Livemint.com)

The second wave of coronavirus is slowing down and the country is now open for the public with minimum restrictions. The Centre is now worried about the new variant Delta Plus which is found in several states of the country. Maharashtra is the first state to trace a number of cases due for Delta Plus. The government of Maharashtra issued new orders imposing uniform level three across the state. There are seven districts of Maharashtra which has cases of Delta Plus.

“Given that the virus causing COVID-19 is undergoing mutations in various geographies and that these mutations are displaying more transmissibility and potential reductions in monoclonal antibody response, a state-level trigger mandating all the administrative units -- irrespective of values of the indices of weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy percentage -- to remain at a level not below three is to be in operation till withdrawn by specific order of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)", told the official statement of the Maharashtra government.

The Delta Plus variant turned out to be the one with concern as it is highly transmissible and stronger binding to receptors of lung cells. The government of Maharashtra ordered the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to impose strict guidelines in all the districts as a safety measure. Maharashtra happened to be the most impacted state of the country due to Covid-19 and the state is considering the Delta Plus variant seriously. Under level three restrictions, all the essentials will be allowed to function till 4 PM on a regular basis. All the shopping malls, multiplexes and restaurants will remain shut and they will operate with 50 percent occupancy till 4 PM. The parcel and takeaway services are allowed in some of the regions.