Omicron most dominant strain of Covid 19 in India

Omicron has replaced Delta as the dominant strain of the coronavirus now causing Covid-19 across India.

According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (Insacog), since February first week, Omicron is found in more than 95% of samples in genome sequencing. This suggests that "Delta is taken over by Omicron", a senior government official told ET on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier they were seeing mixed infections including Delta, Beta and Delta plus, he said. However, now, genome sequencing samples show that Omicron has completely overtaken Delta. Experts at Insacog said unlike Delta, which spreads in waves, Omicron's spread was simultaneous across the country.


"Delta is sporadic now," said the official, adding that efforts were on to intensify and increase genome sequencing. In January, Insacog said that Omicron was in community transmission in India and had become the dominant variant in multiple metros.

It at the time cautioned that the threat level remained "unchanged", asserting that most Omicron cases so far had been asymptomatic or mild though hospitalisations and ICU cases had been increasing.

In the fourth week of December, Omicron was found in 50% of the samples sent for genomic sequencing. In the second and third weeks of January, this was around 90-95%. Insacog expects that the spread of Omicron in India is through internal transmission and not on account of those who have travelled overseas.

Insacog said that a revised sampling and sequencing strategy was being worked out to address genomic surveillance objectives in the wake of the changing scenario.