Mumbai: Genome sequencing of all 288 samples infected by Omicron, says BMC

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All 288 swab samples tested during the 15th genome sequencing series in Mumbai have been found infected with the Omicron sub-variants of the novel Coronavirus, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Thursday. The genome sequencing done by BMC's Kasturba lab showed that the variant BA.2.75 was found in around 37 per cent of the samples, which is the highest.

Of the 288 samples, 106 belong to the BA.2.75 variant. At least 96 samples (33 per cent) belong to the BA.2.75.1 variant and 60 (21 per cent) samples belong to the BA.2.75.2 variant. At least 6 samples (2 per cent) each belong to two variants BA.5.2 and BJ.1; 4 samples are of variant BA.2.76; 3 samples are of BA.2 variant and 2 samples are of variant BH.1. Besides these, BA.2.10.4, BA.2.74, BA.5.1, BE.1 and BE.3 variants have been found in 1 patient each.

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The report said that of the 288 patients, only 2 had received just one dose of the vaccine, 202 patients received both doses, but 84 patients had not taken any dose of vaccine. However, doctors said there was no need to panic. Dr Rahul Pandit, director of Critical Care Medicine & ICU at Fortis and a member of the State COVID Task Force said, "Though there are new sub-variants, there is no need to panic as the cases are under control. People should follow COVID-19 safety protocol when they are in crowded and closed spaces."

BMC's Executive Health Officer Dr Mangala Gomare said, "This time we have seen new sub-variants in very few patients but they are not a cause of concern as cases are not going up."