The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is in the community transmission stage in the country and has become dominant in several metros.
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is triggering off the third wave across cities where new cases have been spiking rapidly INSACOG said in its latest bulletin.
“Further spread of Omicron in India is now expected to be through internal transmission, not foreign travellers, and a revised sampling and sequencing strategy of INSACOG is being worked out to address genomic surveillance objectives in the wake of dynamic changing scenario of virus infection,” the INSACOG said.
Some people who got COVID presently after being doubly vaccinated groan that the symptoms are not mild. However, unlike the second wave, most seem to be coping. So far, most Omicron cases so far have been asymptomatic or mild, while hospitalisations and ICU cases have increased in the current wave and the threat level remains unchanged, INSACOG said in its January 10 bulletin that was released on Sunday.
The centre’s COVID research body also said BA.2 lineage is a contagious sub-variant of Omicron, has been detected in a large fraction in India.
“Omicron is now in community transmission in India and has become dominant in multiple metros, where new cases have been rising exponentially. BA.2 lineage is in a substantial fraction in India and S gene dropout based screening is thus likely to give high false negatives,” it said.
S-gene drop-out is a genetic variation like that of Omicron.
“The recently reported B.1.640.2 lineage is being monitored. There is no evidence of rapid spread and while it has features of immune escape, it is currently not a variant of concern. So far, no case has been detected in India,” the INSACOG said. Though the virus is spreading across metros, it is still restricted to certain metros and they state that it is currently not a variant of concern.
They write, “COVID appropriate behaviour and vaccination are main shields against all form mutations of SARSCoV-2 virus.”
Short for Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, INSACOG checks variations in coronavirus across the nation to help understand how it spreads and evolves and to suggest the best potential public health response.
The INSACOG, under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, reports genomic surveillance of SARS CoV -2 across the country through sequencing of samples from sentinel sites and also detailed state-wise district analysis for some states.
A total of 1,50,710 samples have been sequenced and 1, 27,697 samples have been analysed so far by INSACOG.
The Union health ministry of Thursday said Omicron is driving the surge, but the effect has not been severe or fatal only because of the vaccine coverage.