Newly detected Omicron sub variant XBB.1.16 has become the dominant variant circulating in the country, accounting for 60% cases, a member of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the laboratory consortium, told ET.

He said 25-30% cases are of other sub lineages of XBB variant only. The Insacog, a network of laboratories monitoring genomic variations of Covid-19 virus, will hold a meeting on Friday to review the solution. So far be said no “unusual pattern” has been seen, he said.

“We are keeping strict vigil on the increase in cases. Most cases are of different sub lineages of XBB variant only,” he said. He also that said all the cases are breakthrough infections, which means that the sub variant is infecting irrespective of the number of Covid-19 vaccine doses.

“It doesn’t matter if people have taken two doses or three doses, the variant is capable of infecting people. The good thing is that there is no increase in severity,” he said.

He said that the deaths and people who have been hospitalised are those with co-morbidities.

“The fatality or hospitalisation is seen in people with co-morbidities,” he said. Adding that the sub variant started to show up in seweage samples “all over the country” two weeks back.

“It’s now present everywhere in the country. It appeared two weeks back which indicate that it’s actively circulating ,” he said. Several parts of the country have started seeing an upsurge in the number of Covid cases in the last few weeks.