In a bid to ascertain the reason for the surge in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent swab samples collected from across the city for genome sequencing to the lab at Kasturba Hospital. Test results to identify the variant of coronavirus are expected in the next two days.
Moreover, the civic body has decided to increase the daily tests from 8,000 to 25,000. On Thursday, June 2, 9,544 tests were conducted at several locations across the city.
Additionally, since the number of cases is rising again, the BMC has appealed to people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour, including washing hands regularly, using face masks and maintaining social distance, for their safety.
According to the BMC officials, the reason for the surge in cases will be made clear once genome sequencing results from the latest round are available. The civic body said they are awaiting the genome sequencing results which are underway. They are gearing up for any unexpected challenge that may be posed during the monsoons.
The good part is that a majority of those testing positive are asymptomatic and hospital beds are adequately available, officials added.
However, this time the transmission of Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5 and increased mobility in the general population are suspected to be among the reasons for the rise, apart from the absence of masking.
For those unversed, on Thursday, June 3, the city reported one death and 704 new COVID-19 cases, which were recorded at 739 the previous day.
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