MINSK, June 23. / TASS /. The so-called Indian strain of the coronavirus has been identified in Minsk. This was reported on Wednesday by the press service of the Ministry of Health of Belarus.
“Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 virus sequences isolated in June from samples of patients with confirmed COVID-19 showed that in Minsk 10 samples tested had a set of mutations in the spike protein characteristic of the Indian variant (Delta, B.1.617. 2) So it can be stated that “the Indian variant of the coronavirus” has been identified in Belarus, “the message says. The department added that the circulation of this option in other regions of the republic has not yet been established.
The report notes that specialists of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health are conducting continuous molecular genetic screening of variants of the SARs-CoV-2 virus. “This work is being carried out with the aim of tracking and controlling the emergence of new variants circulating in the country. Particular attention is paid to identifying genetic variants of concern to WHO,” the department notes. The Ministry of Health added that active vaccination will help citizens to endure the Indian version of COVID-19 “more calmly.”
In recent weeks, there has been a decrease in the daily increase in the number of people infected with coronavirus in Belarus. So, as of June 22, 398 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in the republic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 411,551 people have been identified with a positive test for COVID-19 in the country. Over the entire period of the spread of the infection in the country, 3,063 patients with diagnosed coronavirus infection have died.
In Belarus, on October 1, 2020, vaccination of volunteers with the Russian drug “Sputnik V” began as part of post-registration studies. The republic became the first state after Russia to register this vaccine. After that, the country established a joint production of this Russian drug, which is currently being used to vaccinate the population. Three consignments of the Chinese vaccine Vero Cell were also delivered to the republic.
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