The latest genome sequencing result has revealed that 50 per cent of the Covid-19 patients across the state were infected with new Coronavirus sub-variant XBB.1.16, believed to be highly contagious. Health officials, however, said this was a small surge and that this strain would not wreak havoc, as only a handful of patients are in need of hospitalisation.

Since mid-February, many states in the nation have been witnessing a gradual rise in Covid-19 cases, including Maharashtra. However, over the past few days, the numbers have shot up rapidly. On Sunday, the state health department recorded 397 new cases, including 123 from Mumbai. The number of active cases in the state rose to 2,117, with 558 in Mumbai. According to data from the BMC, only 43 out of the 558 patients are currently hospitalised.