Delhi Sends Covid Samples for Genome Sequencing Amid Rise in Cases

With covid cases witnessing an uptick again, the Delhi government has sent samples of infected patients for genome sequencing to identify any new variants, officials said on Tuesday.

As per health authorities, Delhi has been reporting an average of 3-4 fresh covid cases daily, indicating that the infection rate currently stands below 1 percent.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and sending all positive samples for genome sequencing as a precautionary measure,” said a senior official from the Delhi health department.

He informed that across India, 63 cases of the Omicron sub-variant BN.1 have been detected so far, with Goa alone accounting for 34 cases. Other states that have reported BN.1 infections include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

The national capital, meanwhile, has seen 5 new cases in the last 24 hours. The low infection rate has been a relief for authorities after Delhi witnessed a disastrous second wave in April-May last year.

However, officials remain vigilant about the possibility of another wave as cases spike in some parts of the country. A review meeting was also held with the Centre to take stock of the covid situation.

“We were informed that cases are rising more in southern states compared to Delhi. With appropriate genome sequencing and testing, we hope to keep things under control,” said Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Across India, 423 new cases surfaced in the last 24 hours while the active caseload stands at 4,054. One death was reported from Kerala during this period.

The health ministry has advised states to ensure adequate testing along with surveillance, clinical management, vaccination and implementation of covid protocols as part of the ‘Test, Track, Treat, Vaccination and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior’ strategy.