Omicron Sub-Variant BA.2.12 Likely Behind Delhi Case Surge

New Delhi: Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12 has been found in majority of the samples from Delhi that were sent for genome-sequencing in the first fortnight of April and could be driving the case surge in the city.

“New sub-variants BA.2.12 (52 per cent samples) and BA.2.10 (11 per cent samples) are showing high transmission and have been found in over 60 per cent of the total samples from Delhi sequenced recently,” an official told PTI.

“The BA.2.12 variant appears to have a growth advantage of about 30% to 90% per week over BA.2 (Omicron),” the official said.

Over 300 samples have been genome-sequenced in Delhi in the first fortnight of April. The same sub-variants have been found in samples sequenced in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Delhi reported 1,009 cases on Thursday while Haryana reported 3,103 cases, Uttar Pradesh 1,684 cases and Maharashtra 1,625 cases.