Scientists at the Department of Biotechnology’s Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), working on genome sequencing of COVID-positive samples, have stated that besides the original Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, its sub-lineage - BA.1 - is also in circulation and is fast replacing the Delta variant in Maharashtra and certain other states.

There are two more sub-lineages of Omicron — BA.2 and BA.3. A senior scientist said that in some sequencing tests of clinical samples, they are seeing more of BA.1 sub-lineage now, compared to the original Omicron strain. Among the three sub-lineages of Omicron, presence of BA.2 has also been noticed in genome sequencing tests. However, this is very low. BA.3 sub-lineage of Omicron has not yet been identified in India… (ET Healthworld – TNN, January 10, 2022)