The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortium (INSACOG) has said in its latest bulletin that the Omicron form in India is at the stage of community transmission and it has dominated in the metropolitan cities which are witnessing a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases. The government-formed group ‘INSACOG’ to analyze the genome sequencing of Covid-19 also said that Omicron’s infectious sub-form BA.2 has been found in some parts in the country.
The group, in its bulletin dated January 10, released on Sunday, said that in most of the Omicron cases reported so far, the patient either did not show signs of infection or showed mild symptoms. Hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions have increased in the current wave and the danger level has not changed.
The bulletin said, ‘Omicron is now at the level of community transmission in India and it has become dominant in various metros where new cases are increasing rapidly. The presence of the BA.2 subtype has been found and therefore there is a high probability that the infection may go undetected during the S gene dropout based screening.
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The ‘S-gene’ created by the genetic variation of the virus is similar to the Omicron form. The bulletin said, ‘The recently revealed B.1.640.2 lineage is being monitored. There is no evidence of its rapid spread. Immunity is expected to penetrate it but at the moment it is not of ‘worrisome’ nature. Till now, no such case has been detected in India.’
January 3 bulletin, released on Sunday, said that Omicron is now at the level of community transmission in India and has become dominant in Delhi and Mumbai, where new cases are increasing rapidly.
The bulletin said, ‘The spread of Omicron in India is no longer possible through foreign travelers but within the country itself it is spreading. In view of the changing scenario of the spread of infection, work is being done to revise the sample collection and sequencing strategy at INSACOG.’
