10 August,2023 10:11 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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A new Omicron sub-variant, EG.5.1.1, was detected in Maharashtra in May, but there is no need to worry as it was the only case recorded, a health department official told news agency PTI on Wednesday.
Babita Kamlapurkar, state's health surveillance officer, told PTI that it is necessary to exercise Covid-19 appropriate behaviour as June, July and August months record a spike in cases.
"The variant, EG.5.1.1, was found in May and we have been monitoring it. It is not of any public health importance," Kamlapurkar told PTI.
She said only one case was detected in May. She, however, declined to share information on the person who was infected with regards to gender, age, travel history.
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"There is no reason to worry. The Centre has also said it has been continuously monitoring the variant and there is no need to worry," she said.
Kamlapurkar added that regular surveillance of Covid-19 variants is on.
Meanwhile, Mumbai on Wednesday reported 10 new COVID-19 cases, taking its overall infection count to 11,64,108, while the death of one patient took the fatality figure to 19,776, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
The death reported on Wednesday, however, did not occur this month and it took place earlier, a health department official said.
This is the second coronavirus-linked fatality after a gap of more than a month in Mumbai. On July 6, a 68-year-old patient died of the infection.
On Tuesday, the metropolis reported seven Covid-19 cases and zero fatality.
This is the second time in August that it reported Covid-19 cases in double digits. On August 6, the city witnessed 10 cases.
The number of recoveries rose to 11,44,285 after four more patients recuperated from the respiratory illness, leaving the metropolis with 47 active cases, the bulletin said.
A total of 292 tests were conducted in the city during the day, pushing up their cumulative count to 1,89,17,951, the civic body said.
(With inputs from PTI)