As per experts, the rise in COVID cases is happening most likely due to the newly-detected COVID XBB 1.16 variant. The XBB 1.16 variant was first identified in January when two samples tested positive, and in February, a total of 59 samples were found. So far on March 15, 2023, more samples of the variant have been detected. The number of COVID XBB 1.16 variant cases detected in India is the highest across the world. Experts believe that this new COVID variant is triggering a fifth wave of the pandemic.
New Delhi: COVID19 infections and deaths continued to rise in the country, with 1,805 fresh cases reported in
the last 24 hours, notified the Union Health Ministry. The daily COVID positivity rate is at an all-time high, standing at 3.19 per cent. On the other hand, the weekly positivity rate touched 1.39 per cent today.
