Maharashtra reports first cases of B.A. 4 and B.A. 5 variants

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For the first time, Maharashtra has reported four patients of B.A. 4 variant and three cases of B.A. 5 variants of the Omicron sub-lineage of the Coronavirus. According to the health department, all of them had mild symptoms and none of the patients needed hospitalisation. Experts said there is no need to panic as of now, but people should continue following the basic protocol of wearing masks and avoiding crowds. The two sub-lineages of Omicron have been reported in the Pune district.

The genome sequencing was conducted by the Institute of Science Education and Research, and its findings have been confirmed by the Indian Biological Data Centre in Faridabad. As many as seven patients, all from Pune, were detected with the infection of the sub-lineage of Omicron. Four of them are men and three are women. Four patients are above 50 years of age, while two are in the 20-40 age group and one patient is a nine-year-old child.

Vax drive kicks off at tourist spots

Covid-19 preventive vaccination for all age groups started at eight tourist spots from Saturday onwards. The spots include Gateway of India in Colaba, Jehangir Art gallery at Kala Ghoda, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum, Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Garden and Zoo in Byculla, Mahakali Caves in Andheri, Chhota Kashmir Boating Club in Aarey Colony, Snow World Phoenix City in Kurla and Kidzania RCT Mall in Ghatkopar.