The States and Union territories have been asked to submit a "larger number" of samples for whole genome sequencing from the districts and areas that have seen a surge in COVID-19 cases over a period of seven days, official sources said on June 18.
The direction was issued on Friday during a meeting of the INSACOG, which reviewed the COVID data to check the possibility of any new emerging variant or sub-variant and ascertain the reasons behind the breakthrough infections.
According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) experts, Omicron and its sub-lineages -- primarily BA.2 and BA.2.38 as of now -- seem to be behind the current rise in the number of COVID cases in the country, according to a source.
