NHS chiefs confirm Grantown cluster was an Indian variant of Covid
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Health chiefs have confirmed to the Strathy that the Covid variant circulating in Grantown last week originated in India.
But they have stressed it is not the strain that has given rise to new concerns across parts of the UK.
A mobile testing unit was sent to the town last week to test people without symptoms following cases having been identified as a variant under investigation.
The testing unit has now left the area and earlier this week the health board confirmed as yet no further cases have been identified.
An NHS Highland spokesman said: “The variant detected in Grantown is a variant under investigation that was first detected in India.
“There are three variants which were first detected in India and the one identified in Grantown is not the one that has recently been designated a variant of concern.”
NHS Highland is continuing to urge local residents to take measures to safeguard against potentially spreading Covid.
The spokesman said: “It is even more important than ever before that everyone continues to follow FACTS – wear a face covering, avoid crowded places, clean your hands regularly, maintain two metres distance and self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms.”
Variant B.1.617.2 has given rise to renewed fears over the spread of Covid in some parts of the UK as it is thought to be more transmissible than the Kent variant.
It is one of three subtypes of the virus identified on the subcontinent.
It is thought a surge in Glasgow, leading the city to remain under restrictions after lockdown restrictions have been lifted elsewhere in Scotland, is being driven by the variant.
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