Principal Secretary Medical Education and Research Mr DKTiwari today said that in order to check the mutation of new mutated strain(N501Y) SARS-CoV-2 virus in Punjab, the state government has decided to send 5%positive samples per week to Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology(IGIB), Delhi and NCDC, Delhi- Division of Biotechnology, Epidemiology andCentral Surveillance Unit.
Divulging the details, the Principal Secretary said thatit was part of the master plan conceived by the state government led by ChiefMinister Captain Amarinder Singh to contain the spread of new virus in Punjab.He said that after the emergence of new mutated strain (N501Y) SARS-CoV-2 viruswith high transmissibility, an advisory was issued by Government of India thatthe new strain could also be circulating in India too. Mr Tiwari said Punjabhas sent random positive samples 80 from Viral Research and DiagnosticLaboratory (VRDL) GMC Patiala, 40 each from VRDL GMC Amritsar and VRDL GGMCFaridkot to check the emergence of new mutated (N501Y) SARS-CoV-2 virus strainto NIV Pune.
The Principal Secretary said that samples were selectedfrom September to December 2020 adding that apart from that, all the passengerswho came from UK were screened for Covid-19. He said that eight patients camepositive for Covid-19 at VRDL GMC Amritsar and one at VRDL GMC Patiala. MrTiwari said that samples of these nine patients have been sent to NIV Pune forsequencing to check new mutated (N501Y) SARS-CoV-2 virus strain.
The Principal Secretary said that three viral testinglabs, one each, in Government Medical Colleges have been pioneer in viralresearch during Covid pandemic. He said that after starting two labs at GMCPatiala & Amritsar in March 2020, third lab was started at Faridkot medicalcollege. Mr Tiwari said that these medical colleges have achieved appreciationin viral testing and research with the hard work, dedication, commitment anddiligence of faculty and technician adding that under the overall supervisionof ICMR the labs have maintained testing quality and efficiency as pergovernment guidelines.
The Principal Secretary further said that variousactivities of VRDL have been undertaken in the state to check mutated Covid 19virus. He said that since March till date 25.74 lakh tests have been done bythe state government. Mr Tiwari said that from March till now 78,666 personshave been detected Covid positive so far.