LETTERS: While the virulent Delta variant is still ravaging the world, causing wave after wave of Covid-19 infections, here comes the news that it has mutated into another form called the Delta Plus or B.1.617.2.1 or AY.1.
While the delta variant had spread to many countries including Malaysia, the delta plus is found so far in these countries - ie United States, Canada, India, Japan, Nepal, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey.
According to scientists, all variants of the Covid-19 virus carry clusters of mutations. In the case of Delta Plus, a mutation known as K417N, which distinguishes it from the Delta variant, has an impact on the spike protein, which is the part of the virus that attaches to the cells it infects.
Mutations are common to all viruses. Some of those changes make viruses better at infecting cells, or better at replicating, while others have little effect or are even harmful to the virus. For now, experts are cautioning everybody to remain watchful but calm.
What does this mean for Malaysia? It means what the heading of the article is saying. While experts are still trying to determine virulent is the new variant, let's be calm and not panic but also not throw caution to the wind.
It is good that the government has extended the first phase of the National Recovery Plan. And it is also good that the infection curve has flattened, as seen from the peak of infection of this fourth wave at 9,020 cases recorded on May 29.
But, with a new variant, testing is key. It is when the data shows that the curve is flattening that testing needs to be ramped up so that the flattening is not followed by a rising of the curve, as seen in the ending of the second and third waves.
EMIR Research has written on the dire need for testing to be ramped up. Of course, this must also move in tandem with the upgrading of the capacity of the healthcare system to cope with the expected high number of infections that immediately follow increased testing.
Together with increased surveillance, quick contact tracing, and priority vaccination, all these would contribute to the flattening of the curve to its floor i.e. zero infection, and any new virulent variants can then be dealt with swiftly.
Jamari Mohtar
Director, Media & Communications, EMIR Research, Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times