It’s back. And it may be a cause for great concern.
A new variant of COVID-19 called “Arcturus” is causing a new wave of infections in India.
Arcturus, Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 strain, is wreaking havoc in the country, where the number of cases has multiplied by 13 in the last month.
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Indian health officials have reportedly been doing practice drills to figure out if hospitals there are equipped to deal with a surge in cases.
Many people have reverted back to wearing face coverings since the surge in cases began.
According to reports, the southern state of Kerela has reintroduced masks for the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying conditions.
Case numbers in the country rose by 3,122 one day this week. According to the Our World in Data, run by Oxford University, the case total was up to 3,108 on April 4, which is 242 more than in the previous month.
The World Health Organization is tracking the Arcturus strain, which was first found in late January.
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Officials have said some mutations could be a concern for the health of the Indian people.
“We haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations but that’s why we have these systems in place,” said the WHO’s COVID technical lead Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, according to The Mirror.
“It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity.”
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Van Kerkhove noted that Arcturus cases have been found in other countries, but most cases were from India, where it has overtaken other variants.
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Still, officials say there has been no change in severity in the diseases reported through those infected by the new variant.
The news comes the same week United States President Joe Biden lifted a COVID emergency.
