Lucknow's NBRI to begin genome sequencing within 15 days to detect Delta plus COVID variant

The state of Uttar Pradesh is expanding its genome sequencing facilities in the wake of the active threat of the Delta plus COVID mutation here and the NBRI in Lucknow, will also revive its genome sequencing lab, in this light. In the next 15 days, the Botanical Institute in the state capital will be inducted into the state machinery to detect the Delta plus variant in UP. Earlier during the first wave also, the institute had assisted in the process of genome sequencing, Director SK Barik informed.

NBRI in Lucknow will help bolster COVID tracing in UP

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In a bid to scale UP's ability to test and trace the detection of the Delta plus strain of coronavirus, the NBRI in Lucknow has decided to join in the force of genome sequencing agencies. Until now, the process was only being conducted at BHU, CDIR, KJMU, and RML Institue in the state. Reportedly, these institutes have raced their sampling procedure, rising to the present need.

The Lucknow NBRI has ordered the required chemicals and in the next 15 days, it will be set to initiate the sampling process, the institute director informed. This ramped up system is being provisioned in view of the expectant 'third wave' of the pandemic. The Lucknow NBRI has previously also played a crucial role in the foray of genome sequencing and sampling during the first COVID wave, informed officials. Around 45 samples were tested during the last tenure.

UP prepares resources ahead of 'third wave' advent

Besides, the state is also augmenting the oxygen generation capacity to ensure self-sufficiency in the face of an adversary. For this, continuous efforts are underway to install 538 oxygen plants, across the 75 districts in UP. Of these, 121 plants, including those in Hapur, Siddharthnagar and Kushinagar, have also been made functional.

The state has further planned to set up new RT-PCR testing labs in 11 districts along with BSL-2 labs across 30 districts, to further speed up the process of virus tracing, testing and thus, treatment.