The Maharashtra health department announced on Monday, amid a rise in infections in the state, that the genome sequencing of a Pune resident's sample had discovered India's first instance of Omicron subvariant BQ.1. Pradeep Awate cited the discovery, according to a state surveillance official, and warned that high-risk patients should take safeguards.
The two descendants of omicron's BA.5 subvariant, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, have both been characterised as dangerous since they could resist the countermeasures that can be used against Covid-19. Over 10% of all active cases in the US are attributable to them.
In Maharashtra, Covid-19 instances rose 17.7% during the week that concluded on October 16. The state announced 201 Covid-19 instances on Monday. In Maharashtra, the case fatality rate is 1.82%. There were 23 new cases in Pune.