Following the suit of Maharashtra government, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to send all the COVID-19 positive samples for genome sequencing to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune in order to save resources and money.
The BMC has its own genome-sequencing lab in Kasturba hospital, which helped a lot to identify new variants of coronavirus. However, it won't be used for genome testing as of now.
The civic body took this decision in view of fewer cases in view of fewer cases in the city and other districts.
Explaining further, civic official stated that to run one cycle of genome sequencing, it requires at least 300 samples. Currently the city is getting reporting cases in single digits and testing these few samples will be a waste of resources. In addition, other districts are also facing the same issue, so the health department has decided to send all the samples from across the state to Pune for genome sequencing.
Every COVID-19 positive sample (Ct value of less than 30) will be sent for genomic sequencing. This will allow timely detection of new variants, civic official exclaimed.
"We will take further guidance regarding the situation from the State Covid Task Force. Each district should complete the preparations for tackling the virus at its own level by holding a review meeting of its district Covid-19 control committee," the official added.
This development came after the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday, December 22, chaired a meeting of health department officials to review the COVID-19 situation and directed them to make arrangements for beds, oxygen cylinders and other essentials required to deal with an outbreak.
During the meeting, the state government also decided to conduct the thermal screening of international passengers.
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