The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration and Co-Chair of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), Dr NK Arora on Monday said that the COVID-19 Delta variant is around 40-60 percent more transmissible than Alpha Variant. Dr Arora revealed that the Delta variant first emerged in the state of Maharashtra and travelled northwards along with the western states of the country before entering the central and the eastern states.

"B.1.617.2, a variant of COVID-19 is known as the Delta variant. It was first identified in October 2020 in India, and was primarily responsible for the second wave in the country, today accounting for over 80 percent of new COVID-19 cases. It is around 40-60 percent more transmissible than its predecessor (Alpha variant) and has already spread to more than 80 countries, including the UK, the USA, Singapore, and so on," said Dr Arora.

Talking about the mutation linked with the Delta variant Dr Arora said, "It has mutations in its spike protein, which helps it bind to the ACE2 receptors present on the surface of the cells more firmly, making it more transmissible and capable of evading the body's immunity."

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