Home Articles Genome sequencing tests show Omicron dominating in Karnataka: Health Minister
Highlights
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With COVID-19 cases surging in Karnataka, genome sequencing tests conducted in the state show that Omicron variant is still dominating in the state.
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In this regard, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar tweeted on Wednesday stating that most people with COVID-19 symptoms are infected by the BA.2 sub-variant of the Omicron variant of novel coronavirus.
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“Which strain is dominating in Karnataka? As per the genome sequencing sample: March 2021 – December 2021: 90.7% Delta January 2022 – April 2022: 87.80% Omicron May 2022 – June 2022: 99.20% Omicron,” Sudhakar tweeted.
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According to him, amongst the Omicron variants, currently BA.1.1.529 and BA.1 have dipped to 8.60 per cent and 0.04 per cent, respectively.
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However, BA.2 sub-lineage has increased from 80.60 per cent to 89.40 per cent since May, the minister tweeted.
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Sudhakar said the new variants — BA.3, BA.4 and BA.5 — are observed to be in their nascent phases.
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The data shared by him shows that last year from March to December, Delta and its sub-lineages dominated but this year Omicron was the dominant variant of the novel coronavirus.
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The state had on Tuesday reported 738 fresh cases while on Monday there were 530 new infections. There were, however, zero fatalities on both days.
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According to the health officials, the latest surge in cases is due to Omicron, which is not a deadly variant as compared to Delta that had wreaked havoc in 2021.