Is Omicron Behind The Spike In COVID-19 Cases?

Amid a sudden spike in the COVID-19 cases in the last two, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s 14^th genome sequencing report revealed that Omicron and its sub lineages were responsible for this uptick.

Of the 230 samples, 64 were detected with BA 2.74 variant, followed by 45 samples each of BA 2.76 and BA 2.75 variant, 28 samples of BA 2.38, 19 samples of BA.5, 18 samples of another variant, nine samples of BA 2.38.1 and two samples of BA.4 variant, as per official data.

Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that this also came days after the Mumbai registered a massive hike of nearly 80 per cent in the new coronavirus cases. This increase has been attributed to the rise in viral activity in the city due to rains.

Experts suggest that the BA.2.75 variant includes new mutations in the spike protein. Of the mutations, G446S and R493Q are of particular concern, as it gives the variant the ability to evade several antibodies. This means, it can infect people who have been vaccinated or have been infected previously.

Reiterating the importance of inoculation, civic health officials stated that those who complete the vaccination and those who follow the COVID prevention rule get the most protection from the virus infection, and even if the infection does occur, its severity can be completely prevented.

If reports are to be believed, the civic body had sent the naso-oropharyngeal positive sample for genome sequencing from hospitalised patients as well as people testing positive in dispensaries and laboratories.