Delhi begins genome testing of all samples

Genome sequencing of samples of all Covid-19 infected people in Delhi has begun to ascertain if a new variant has spread in the city, as the number of cases rise.

About 500 samples have been sent for genome sequencing and the experts said that results are expected to come sometime this week, people in the know told ET.

"As of now we have not seen any clusters. Whether it is the same variant or has changed will be known soon," said a person aware of the matter. The results of the genome sequencing will help understand whether the XE variant is driving the rise in cases. The XE variant, which is yet to be confirmed in India, is a recombination of Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2. The XE variant has so far been identified in the United Kingdom, India, China and Thailand.


"The genome sequencing is underway and soon we will get clarity regarding the presence of the variant," added the same person. The World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier issued a warning against XE, a new variant of Omicron, and suggested that it could be more transmissible than any Covid-19 strain so far.

After a steady decline in Covid cases, Delhi is once again seeing a spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases. The positivity rate shot up on Monday to 7.72% even as the city recorded 501 fresh cases. The positivity rate was above seven per cent in the city in January sometime.