Agartala, July 10: In a worrisome development, about 90 per cent of the COVID-19 samples sent from Tripura for genome sequencing showed the presence of “Delta Plus” variant which is feared to be the potential reason behind the third wave of pandemic in the country.

This has pushed the northeast state to further tighten its restrictions by introducing Weekend Curfew — Saturday 12 noon to Monday 6.30 AM in the morning — and have further extended existing day and night curfews on weekdays throughout out Agartala city and other Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) that have shown high trajectory of cases for a week.

Chief Microbiologist of GBP Hospital, Dr Tapan Mazumdar in an urgent late night media interaction on Friday said, “A total of 151 samples were sent for genome sequencing in the regional laboratory at Kolkata where 138, that is 91.38 per cent were Delta Plus variant.

The samples sent were not only collected from Agartala (highest prevalence of cases in the state) but also from other districts that indicates the variant has transmitted throughout the state.”

Of those samples that were found to be Delta Plus variants, 115 were collected from West district that includes Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) while, of the rest eight were from Sepahijala district, five from Gomati district, four from Unakoti district, two each from South and North district, and one each from Khowai and Dhalai district.

Of those samples that weren’t Delta Plus, three were alpha variant attributed for the first wave from March 2020 to March 2021 and ten were Delta variant, also attributed for the ongoing second wave since April 2021.

There is a need to review the situation again in today’s context, said Chief Microbiologist and added that the health department has made a proposal to the Tripura government to take the necessary course of action.

Weekend curfew and restrictions

Meanwhile, government has imposed weekend curfew and extended restrictions till July 17.

Secretary of Revenue Department, Tanushree Debbarma said the curfew had been extended without any lapse since the past one month.

Informing that the situation has been reviewed again, Tanushreee said, “It has been decided that a complete curfew will be enforced across Tripura from 12 noon on July 10 to 6 AM on July 12, the two weekend days when most government offices are also shut due to second Saturday and Sunday. Everything will be closed and vehicular movements will be barred except emergency services during that time period”.

These restrictions are implemented in 11 Urban Local Bodies — Ranirbazar Municipal Council, Jirania Nagar Panchayat, Udaipur Municipal Council, Kailashahar Municipal Council, Dharmanagar Municipal Council, Khowai Municipal Council, Belonia Municipal Council, Kumarghat Municipal Council, Teliamura Municipal Council, Sonamura Nagar Panchayat, Amarpur Nagar Panchayat and Sabroom Nagar Panchayat — along with Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Night and Day curfews have also been extended in these ULBs on weekdays — Monday to Friday during which all non essential shops and services will be closed after 2 pm till next day 6 am.