Kappa mutations behind Covid outbreaks in early 2021, especially in Maharashtra: INSACOG

Indian sequencing data for mutations associated with greater infectivity shows that a mutation was also present in the Kappa lineage of COVID-19 that led to outbreaks in early 2021, especially in Maharashtra, before being displaced by Delta, the INSACOG said. The Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia said Delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) continues to be the main variant of concern (VOC) in India and no new variant of interest or VOC has been noted.