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    HomeNewsIndiaCOVID-19: Maharashtra to test more samples for mutation as coronavirus cases rise rapidly

    COVID-19: Maharashtra to test more samples for mutation as coronavirus cases rise rapidly

    As many as 6,112 fresh cases were reported in Maharashtra on February 19, most of them coming from Akola, Pune and Mumbai divisions.

    Moneycontrol News
    February 20, 2021 / 13:04 IST
    File image: Commuters walk on a railway platform after disembarking from a local train amid the coronavirus pandemic in Mumbai, India on February 9, 2021. (Image: Reuters/Francis Mascarenhas)

    In a bid to solve the mystery behind surging cases of COVID-19, the Maharashtra government has started genome sequencing of coronavirus samples from Amravati, Yavatmal and Satara districts of Maharashtra, where cases have spiked recently.

    In view of the increase in cases in Western Maharashtra's Pune, Sarata districts and Amravati and Yavatmal in the Vidarbha region, genome sequencing of coronavirus samples from these areas was carried out, the health department said on February 19.

    Track this LIVE blog for the latest updates on coronavirus pandemic

    No mutation similar to that found in new strains in the UK, South Africa or Brazil was observed, it said in a statement. Similarly, no mutation in the genome was found in 12 samples from the Pune district, it said.

    However, some more samples from Amravati and Yavatmal have been sent for genome testing to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology and National Centre for Cell Science, it said.

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    As per an Indian Express report, Amravati will send 90 more samples of COVID-19 patients, including those of the deceased, to look for the prevalence of mutation in them, while Yavatmal will send 100 samples.

    Read: Maharashtra imposes lockdown in Amravati; restrictions in Yavatmal due to spike in cases

    Earlier, researchers had found two new mutations in coronavirus samples from Amravati and Yavatmal districts, but no foreign strain of virus was found.

    Maharashtra on February 19 reported more than 6,000 new coronavirus infections in a single day for the first time after more than three months, indicating a worsening pandemic situation.

    Also read: The curious case of the Covid-19 resurgence in Mumbai and Maharashtra

    As many as 6,112 fresh cases were reported during the day, most of them coming from Akola, Pune and Mumbai divisions.

    Akola division, which includes districts of Akola, Amravati and Yavatmal, all showing a sudden spike in cases, had a case tally of 76,207 on February 12. On Friday it increased by 6,697 and climbed to 82,904.

    Click here for Moneycontrol's full coverage of COVID-19 outbreak

    Moneycontrol News
    first published: Feb 20, 2021 01:04 pm

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