(Image source from: latestly.com)

The second wave of coronavirus calmed down slowly and close to 15,9000 new cases are reported in the country on a regular basis. The health experts warned of a third wave of coronavirus early next year and it is expected to hit the nation between January and March 2022. A new variant of coronavirus named AY4.2 is detected in various countries and is creating a havoc across the globe. AY4.2 variant is found in China, the United Kingdom and Russia and the cases saw a huge rise in these countries already. Now the cases of AY4.2 variant are traced in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

With the festival season around and the variant of AY4.2 traced in various states, the Centre alerted the states about the spread of the cases. The Health Ministry kept a close watch about the new variant and is keen to take steps to prevent the spread of AY4.2. The teams of ICMR and NCDC are conducting a study about the new variants and analyzing about it told the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The World Health Organization (WHO) also decided to classify the AY4.2 variant as a 'variant under investigation'. There is no evidence that AY4.2 is deadlier that Delta variant told the health experts.

By Siva Kumar