The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday announced news labels, using Greek alphabets, for various variants of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), also giving names to the two variants that have been found in India thus far. "Covid variant first found in India will be referred to as Delta, while earlier found variant in the country will be known as Kappa," WHO further said. The earliest samples from both the variants from both the variants were documented in October 2020, it said. "No country should be stigmatised for detecting and reporting Covid variants," Dr Kerkhove said further. The labels don’t replace existing scientific names, which convey important scientific information and will continue to be used in research.

Source: Hindustan Times May 31, 2021 17:26 UTC