India has detected 436 cases of a mutated sub-variant of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, called XBB1.16.1. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) released this information on Monday. The XBB1.16 variant was first discovered in January when two samples tested positive for it. So far, 436 cases of the subvariant have been found in 18 states and Union Territories including Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, and Haryana. INSACOG data shows that 2,735 cases of the XBB1.16 variant have been found in 24 states and Union Territories.
India has recorded 9,111 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of active cases to 60,313, according to the Union Health Ministry’s latest data.
The INSACOG bulletin of March 27 reported an increase in infection rates in western, southern, and northern parts of India. XBB continued to be the most commonly circulating Omicron sub-lineage among the samples collected until the third week of March. INSACOG conducts genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 by sequencing samples from sentinel sites across India and international passengers arriving in the country.
