The most recent INSACOG bulletin states that the recently discovered recombinant coronavirus variant XBB.1.16 has been found in various regions of the nation and is responsible for 38.2% of infections to date.

According to the March 27 bulletin, which was published on Thursday, XBB remained to be the most often circulating Omicron sublineage among the samples gathered up until the third week of March 2023.

The bulletin stated that a rise in infection rate has been seen, particularly in western, southern, and northern portions of India, while noting that Omicron and its sublineages continue to be the dominant variations in India.

World Health Organization is keeping a close eye on the Covid subvariant XBB.1.16. On March 22, it added XBB.1.16 to its watch list of variations.

"The other variants that were prevalent in India have been replaced by XBB.1.16. Hence, we have to keep an eye on this "

said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's COVID-19 technical head, at a news conference on March 29. This variation's symptoms include a fever that gradually rises and lasts for one to two days, a sore throat, physical aches, headaches, and abdominal discomfort. There are no significant issues with the XBB.1.16 version. However, those with respiratory disorders or underlying health issues should proceed with great caution.

India recorded 14 deaths in the last 24 hours

In the preceding 24 hours, there were 14 coronavirus-related deaths in India. Maharashtra reported three of the 14 cases, followed by Karnataka and Rajasthan with two each, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and one case that Kerala reconciled.

According to PTI, the weekly positivity rate was 3.02 percent and the daily positivity rate was 3.39 percent.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, a 60-year-old woman receiving treatment for Covid passed away. The city recorded a Covid-19 death after a gap of about 7 and a half months.

Mansukh Mandaviya holds review meeting amid a surge in cases

In light of the rapid increase in cases, state health ministers gather for a Covid review under the leadership of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The conference was announced and detailed by MoS Health Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar earlier in the day "Guidelines for Covid-19 have been periodically released by the Center to the States and UTs. PM Modi has discussed this with all of the states. A review meeting with the health ministers of the states and UTs will be held today by Minister of Health Mandaviya ".

According to the Health Ministry, 1,78,533 tests were performed in total the day before.

In the previous 24 hours, 2,334 doses of vaccinations were given. Since the nationwide immunization effort got underway on January 16, 2021, a total of 2,20,66,20,700 vaccinations have been administered.

Kerala has recorded the most Covid instances, with 9,422 current cases. Delhi now has 2,060 active cases after adding 265 additional cases, while Maharashtra has reported 3,987 active cases overall in the state.

72 districts of 21 states are on red alert

For the last four weeks, 72 districts of 21 states have come under red alert due to the increasing number of corona cases in the country. In these districts, during the last week, 12 to 100 percent of the collected samples have been found corona infected.

The Center has advised caution and heightened attention as the nation experiences an increase in Covid cases. Recently, there has been an increase in Covid cases in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Kerala.

In comparison to the 214 cases recorded the day before, Delhi reported 300 new Covid infections on Wednesday. The number of daily new Covid cases throughout India also increased to 6,050, a 5-month high.