The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, which consists of 10 national laboratories affiliated with the Indian Ministry of Health, detected a “double mutant” COVID-19 variant in one person in the tests performed in 18 states.

Shahid Jameel, a virologist at the Indian Ministry of Health, explained that the double mutant is “two mutations that come together in the same virus.”

“A double mutation can cause the virus to escape from the immune system and become more contagious,” Jameel said. he spoke.

Jameel underlined that there may be a separate strain of COVID-19 formed by the combination of L452R and E484Q mutations in India.

It was announced that 736 of the 10 thousand 787 tests performed were British variants, 34 were South America and one was Brazilian variant.