At Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, Mumbai's genome sequencing, the detection of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 was found in almost one-third of samples it tested, reports stated.
This according to accounts, signifies possible community transmission in Maharashtra and comes a day after the Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) found Omicron in 38 of its samples from Mumbai and Pune during their community surveillance.
From the 375 samples sequenced, at Kasturba, 141 which is 37.6 per cent were found with Omicron in Mumbai. Previously, 2 per cent of the samples had Omicron.
Also Read: Omicron Scare: Maharashtra Reports 198 New Cases, From Which Mumbai Registers 190
According to reports, Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner, elaborated on how these results signify Omicron's community-level transmission since patients who didn't have travel history were also detected with the variant. In light of this, he believes it is important that everyone stays vigilant.
Based on accounts, Dr Shashank Joshi, COVID-19 task force member elucidated that taking into account the one-day doubling rate as well as the spontaneous rise in cases, it was anticipated that Omicron would spread at the community level. Adding that now they are at a war-footing to deal with the outbreak of the third wave of the coronavirus.
Also Read: Mumbai: Section 144 Of CrPC Extended Till January 15
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