Bhubaneswar: Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) on Sunday started the 300 genome sequencing samples collected from 14 districts to ascertain whether there were Covid-19 variants other than Omicron and Delta circulating in the community.
The study of ILS genomes randomly and cluster sampling will help ensure the extent to the spread of omicrons in various new districts and variants (if any).
“The genome study for supervision will continue even if Omicron replaces Delta fully in the state, which is likely to occur in the next two weeks.
Now, Omicron accounts for 70-75% of Covid cases.
Focus now to set a correlation between various variants and parameters InaP like oxygen demand, ICU requirements and other complications, “said Ajay Parida, Director, ILS.
The last time ILS came out with the genome sequencing report in the third wave was on January 19, when Omicron had emerged as the dominant variant in the community with 58% positive testing samples for it.
Samples from 10 districts were analyzed at that time.
Rise, the omisure kit has been distributed to all districts other than five cities.
RT-PCR based kits help distinguish omicron variants from other strain from Covid.
“We have not compiled a report about how many samples have been used so far.
But Omicron seems to be the dominant variant in omisure-based supervision too,” said Niranjan Mishra, Director, Public Health.
The state adds 4,843 other infections on Sundays that register the same test level of test (7.58%) because on Saturday.
9,191 patients recovered on Sundays.
The recovery rate exceeds new infections of more than 4,000.