Special Genome Sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2 in Karnataka shows an increasing proportion of Omicron BA.2 Variant of Concern (VoC) from 87% in the first week of February to 99% in the last week of the same month. However, no significant increase in clusters or hospital admissions has been noted during this period in the State.
According to data from the State Health Department, of the total 2,155 COVID samples sequenced during the special genome sequencing drive in February, 89.8% (1,936) were found to be infected with Omicron BA.2 variant. The proportion of this variant increased from 87% in the first week of February to 89.2% in the second week. Subsequently, the proportion rose to 94.5% in the third week and then further to 99% in the last week of February.
Overall, only 0.08% (189) samples of the total sequenced 2,155 samples were found to be infected with Delta. While only 21 samples were found to be infected with BA1.1, nine had the BA1 variant during the special genome sequencing drive in February.
