Covid-19 cases in the second week of October. The Department's Surveillance Officer Dr Pradeep Awate had earlier said that the state has reported the XBB variant, which is a new variant having a "growth advantage" over BA.2.75 and immune evasive property.
The city civic body asked citizens to get vaccinated against the viral infection, if not done so till now and also get booster dose, and wear face masks in crowded places and follow other COVID-19 protocols.
Pointing out that daily coronavirus cases registered an uptick in the financial capital in the second week of October, the civic body said new sub-variants of Omicron -- BQ.1 (US variant), BA.2.3.20 apart from XBB, which is a recombinant of BA.2.75 and BJ.1 -- have been detected in Maharashtra. “These new variants have a growth advantage over other variants of Omicron like BA.2.75 and also immune evasive properties," it stated while advising residents to take precautionary measures to prevent a surge in cases.
The advisory said people having difficulty in breathing, immunocompromised patients and those who have recently visited countries where the coronavirus infection is prevalent, should seek immediate medical advice.