SEVEN cases of the Delta Plus Covid-19 variant of concern (VOC) have been detected in Sarawak up to July 27, genome scientists at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak stated in their latest report to the state disaster management committee.

The variant, reported as a sub-lineage of the Delta variant that was first detected in India, has been found in four cases in Kuching, two in Sibu and one in Bintulu, said the state disaster management committee, which today announced the findings. 

A Reuters report said the Delta Plus variant has so far only been detected in a “handful of countries”, including Britain, Portugal and India.

The highly transmissible Delta variant, meanwhile, is continuing its spread in Sarawak.

The head of Unimas’ Institute of Health and Community Medicine, Dr David Perera, stated in his report to the chairman of the committee, Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah, that another 180 cases of the Delta variant have also been detected in the state.

Perera said they were discovered in the districts of Kuching, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Sri Aman, Miri and Bintulu.

The 180 cases were detected from 355 infections that were sequenced.

Kuching had the highest number of the Delta cases, at 124.

There were also two more cases of the Beta variant detected in Kuching, Perera said. This brings the accumulative total to 343 VOC and variants of interest in the state. – August 3, 2021.