New Omicron variant driving Covid-19 surge in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal

The newly detected Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 is driving the surge in Covid-19 infection in Delhi, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday. “About 48% cases are of XBB.1.16. It is not serious but can spread even after vaccination,” he said after holding a high-level meeting to assess the pandemic situation in the national capital.

Kejriwal said sewage samples started to show presence of Covid-19 virus from mid of February, before which “there was zero Covid in Delhi”. He, however, assured there was nothing to worry for now and that the government is taking all required steps “to face any eventuality”.

Hospitals have been asked to keep isolation wards, the chief minister said. “If someone has a kidney ailment and tested positive for Covid, they will not be shifted to a Covid hospital but will be treated in the isolation ward,” he said.


While three Covid-19 deaths have been reported in Delhi over the last four-five days, co-morbidities were severe in all the three patients. The fatality was due to co-morbidities and perhaps Covid was “incidental” but one can't say that, Kejriwal said.

He said the government is conducting genome sequencing of all Covid-19 cases that are being detected. At Delhi airport, he said, 2% of passengers are being randomly tested.