Kerla : Nearly three villages in Kerala have been put under lockdown after a genome sequencing study detected the presence of the highly infectious Delta Plus variant in some Covid-19 patients. Experts have warned that the new variant is very infectious, displays strong binding to receptors of lung cells and affects monoclonal antibodies rapidly. The detection of the new variant occurred at a time when cases have dipped and the government has just started opening up several sectors that were under lockdown for more than 40 days. One case was reported from Pathanamitta and two others from Palakkad district.

“In Pathanamitta it was found in a four-year-old boy in Kadapra village and he’s tested negative now. We have cordoned off the area and all residents are undergoing RT-PCR tests. We have examined the travel history of the family and it seems mutation might have taken place locally,” said district medical officer Dr. A L Sheeja. She said many patients from the area were earlier infected with Delta variant and mutation might have taken place locally.

In Palakkad, the variant was detected in two women in their 50s and both of them tested negative later. Palakkad DMO K P Reetha said their primary contacts tested negative and a massive testing drive was going on in the area. District collector Mrunami Joshi said two villages Parali and Pariyari will be closed for a week and all residents will have to undergo RT-PCR tests.