81% of Punjab New COVID Samples Show UK Variant; CM Captain Amarinder Singh Appeals People to get Vaccinated

In Punjab, after the 81% of the latest 401 samples sent by the state for genome sequencing turned up positive for the new UK Covid variant, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today appealed to the people to get themselves vaccinated, even as he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 since this mutant has been found to be infecting young people more.

Expressing concern over the emerging situation, the Chief Minister stressed the need for the central government to urgently open up the vaccination for a bigger section of the



populace. 

The process needs to be expedited, he said, pointing to the fact that experts had found the existing Covishield vaccine to be equally effective against the UK variant - B.1.1.7. It was essential to vaccinate more and more people to break the chain of transmission, he added.

Captain Amarinder also urged the people to strictly adhere to all Covid safety protocols, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. 

He warned, the state government, which has already announced fresh restrictions, would be forced to impose more curbs if the people do not follow the Covid appropriate behavior.