India reported 4,435 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day jump in seven months. Also, 15 deaths were in past 24 hours. While one death each was reported from Delhi, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Puducherry and Rajasthan, four each were reconciled by Maharashtra and Kerala. The Omicron variant XBB.1.16 is believed to be behind the sudden surge of covid cases in India.

Van Kerkhove added that XBB.1.16 has a similar profile to XBB.1.5, but has additional changes in the spike protein and in lab studies, XBB.1.16 has shown signs of increased infectivity as well as potentially increased pathogenicity.

The WHO expert said that “we haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations,” but “one of the things we are very concerned about is the potential for the virus to change to become not only more transmissible but more severe.So we have to remain vigilant,” she said.

Symptoms of COVID XBB 1.16 Variant
According to Apollo Hospitals, the common symptoms of this XBB 1.16 variant include the signs of upper respiratory illnesses like headache, sore throat, and blocked nose accompanied by fever and muscle pain. The variant can also affect digestive system resulting in diarrhoea.

World Health Organization is closely tracking the covid subvariant XBB.1.16, It had on March 22 added XBB.1.16 to its list of variants under monitoring.

Precautions
“The new variant along with other factors, which include a decrease in Covid appropriate behaviour and a change in weather – makes us more susceptible to respiratory conditions. We might see a mild wave happening, but by and large it will be mild and cause mild disease, not severe and not really result in hospitalisations,” Dr Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS director, told IANS.

Dr Rohit Kumar Garg, Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amrita Hospital, also surged a stepping up of Covid appropriate behaviour.

He urged that “everyone must take a third dose, particularly patients at high risk of severe diseases. The available vaccines are safe and protect us against severe disease,” Garg told IANS.

Dr Garg also suggested the “use of masks should be recommended to all symptomatic (respiratory tract infections) patients, individuals with risk factors for severe disease and their close contacts, particularly in closed crowded settings.