A month after the directorate of health services sent 15 samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for genome sequencing, four of these revealed different strains — from the UK, US, double-mutant from Maharashtra, and the original one. The results were received on Friday.
A senior doctor said that if the three strains have penetrated the state and are responsible for the spurt in cases over the past few days, “we are in a very difficult position”.

“If these strains are responsible for the exponential rise in cases in the state, we don’t know what we are fighting against,” he said.

“It is double trouble, because all of us who have taken the vaccine have become complacent, and do not follow Covid-appropriate behavior.”

He said that Covishield may not offer protection against the new strains. “There is sufficient grounds for us not to be complacent even if we have been vaccinated,” he said, adding that several doctors from a hospital in Maharashtra contracted Covid-19 even after they had taken both doses of the vaccine.

“I would advise people to be careful, and not let down your guard until it is absolutely clear what kind of strains are in circulation,” he said.

Since Goa has to rely on NIV, Pune, for testing of new strains with long waits till results are received, the government has already decided to set up the facility within the state. However, this will take time, an official said.

Meanwhile, the vaccination drive picked up some steam with 6,271 doses being administered on Friday, the highest in a single day since the drive started mid-January.

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