Two variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in Maharashtra and Kerala, but are not responsible for the surge in cases in some districts in these two states, the Centre said on Tuesday. One has also been detected in Telangana. Besides, 187 people in the country have tested positive for the UK strain so far, and six with the South Africa strain and one for the Brazil, said NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul. 

“The N440K and E484K variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in Maharashtra, Kerala and Telangana. Also, strains from UK, South Africa and Brazil are already present in the country. But there is no reason for us to believe, on the basis of scientific information, that they are responsible for the upsurge of the outbreak in some districts of Maharashtra and Kerala,” Paul said. Meanwhile, India has reported 10,584 new cases and 78 more fatalities over a period of 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.