28 samples sent for genome sequencing
MUMBAI: Maharashtra government tested 861 international passengers until December 2, with three testing positive, according to data released by the state health department. Twenty-eight samples have been sent for genome sequencing, including the three found positive on Thursday. Their reports are awaited.
Meanwhile, the state recorded 796 fresh infections pushing the cumulative Covid-19 cases to 6,637,221 on Thursday. The tally of active cases further reduced to 7,209 as 952 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours. It also saw 24 casualties on Thursday and the number of fatalities stood at 141,049. Raigad reported the highest toll with twelve deaths.
A health department release said, “Until today (Thursday) morning, 861 international passengers have been tested with RT-PCR and 3 of them have been found positive. Samples of all three patients have been sent for genomic sequencing. Additionally, field surveillance of all international passengers who arrived since November 1 is underway. A total of 28 samples from both airport and field surveillance have been sent for genomic sequencing. Out of these, 12 are sent to NIV, Pune and 16 to Kasturba Hospital laboratory (in Mumbai). Of the 28, 25 are international travellers and three are their close contacts.”
The state has managed to diminish the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic even after lifting most of the curbs as no spike was recorded in the state after the festive season that lasted almost two months. But the situation has changed since the outbreak of the Omicron variant which is being called as a super mutant owing to its transmissibility.
On Thursday, the state health department said that there is not enough clarity on its severity, and more information is expected to be released in the next two weeks. It has also urged the people to follow Covid appropriate behavior and inform the state health authorities if they have international travel history from the last month and are not fully vaccinated.
“On November 26, the World Health Organisation (WHO) named the Covid-19 virus variant detected in South Africa and some other countries Omicron. It has also classified the Omicron variant as a ‘Variant of Concern’. Experts have expressed possibilities that owing to the genetic modification in the virus, it may possess some specific characteristics. While the transmissibility of infection seems to have increased because of this new variant, there is still not enough clarity on whether or not it will cause a severe disease and whether it will evade the immunity. More information is expected in the next two weeks’ time or so,” stated the release. With 220 cases, Mumbai again reported the highest number of cases in the entire state and its tally reached a total of 763,206 cases till date. It also recorded one fatality taking the toll to 16,341.
In the last 24 hours, the state tested 108,329 samples and had a positivity rate of 0.73%. However, the overall positivity rate of the state stood at 10.1%, according to the data issued by the state health department.
The state also vaccinated 938,930 doses on Thursday and has administered a total 116,209,817 doses till date, according to the data available on Cowin portal.