On Friday, amid the surging cases of COVID in the national capital and other parts of India, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) will be reviewing the data on genomic surveillance of COVID-19 variants. The different variants of Omicron are circulating all over the country including in the national capital. These subvariants are 20-30% more infectious than the original Omicron virus. 

Dr. NK Arora, Chairperson of the COVID working group National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) stated that these sub-variants, namely BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75, BA.2.38 have resulted in a surge of COVID infection. However, no surge in hospitalization or any disease severity has not been observed so far. 

According to the bulletin issued on July 11 by INSACOG, Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the dominant variant in India. The bulletin also mentioned that the BA.2.75 sub-variant has acquired more mutations in spike protein and other genes of the SARS-CoV-2. In the meantime, Dr. Arora has mentioned that the variant is being closely monitored.