Delhi to conduct tests to check if deaths caused by Delta or Omicron variants

NEW DELHI: While Delhi has seen a dip in the number of fresh Covid-19 cases over the past few days and the test positivity rate has also remained below 30%, the number of fatalities still remains on the higher side and is a cause for concern.

Sources said Delhi government was carrying out genome sequencing of samples collected from deceased patients to identify if they were infected by the Omicron or the Delta variant.

Delhi recorded 35 deaths on Wednesday, taking the toll to 353. There were 300 deaths in the last 10 days itself, a daily average of 18.6. This month has already witnessed more than double the number of fatalities recorded in the last six months.

“There is a lag between the surge in Covid-19 cases and fatalities. That is why it’s important to know if the deceased were infected by the Omicron or the Delta variant,” said a Delhi government official.

The genome sequencing of Covid-19 samples is being done in the laboratories of National Centre for Disease Control, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, and Lok Nayak Hospital. Sources said the reports were expected soon.

“An analysis of the deaths of Covid-positive patients has revealed that most of them were comorbid with serious underlying medical conditions. This segment remains vulnerable despite the mild nature of Omicron,” said an official.

In December, the genome sequencing of 1,553 samples revealed that around 34% of them were of the Delta variant, 430 (28%) were Omicron, and the rest of other strains. However, of the 511 samples analysed between January 1 and 8, 402 or nearly 79% were of the Omicron variant. There has been no confirmed case of death caused by the Omicron variant till date.