Reports of the first batch of 188 samples that underwent genome sequencing at the civic-run Kasturba Hospital lab revealed that 128 patients were infected with the Delta variant of Covid-19. Of the remaining samples, two have been found to be the Alpha variant, 24 the Kappa variant and the remaining were infected with the common Covid virus. The BMC said that it will trace the close contacts of the patients who are still taking treatment in hospitals and even appealed to citizens to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Till the reports came in, the state had only 76 Delta plus cases, of which 11 were from Mumbai. The tests for genome sequencing started on Friday and the cycle was completed by Sunday. The interpretation and analysis took another day. “Out of the 188 samples tested, 128 patients were found to be infected with the Delta variant, two were Alpha and 24 were Kappa,” said a BMC official.