Rise in Covid cases amid presence of Omicron's XBB sub-variant, Maharashtra govt issues warning

MUMBAI: As North India enters Diwali celebrations, there are rising concerns over the Covid-19 situation. The reason for concern is the presence of Omicron's new variant XBB. The Maharashtra government has issued a warning in this regard. The state has been witnessing a spike in Covid cases recently.

In the last seven days, there has been a 17.7 percent increase in the number of Covid cases in the state. The state's capital Mumbai and the urban areas of Thane and Raigad have seen an increase in cases.

The Maharashtra Health Department believes that the XBB variant found here may spread to more people in the coming days. The XBB variant is thought to have the ability to overcome the body's immune system. Apart from this variant, BA 2.3.30 and BQ1 variants have also been newly detected in the state, the health department added. These variants were identified in samples collected from Pune. The XBB variant was found in about 70 people in different parts of the country.

XBB is a hybrid or a recombinant of two strains Omicron BJ1 and BA2.75 variants. Apart from Maharashtra, the presence of the new highly contagious variant has also been identified in the states of West Bengal, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The variant was first detected in India in August this year and has since been found in more than 17 countries, including Bangladesh, Denmark, Japan and the US, according to Singapore's Ministry of Health.