As Daily Cases Cross 36,000, Genome Sequencing Not A Priority In Maharashtra

It is more important to treat patients, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope told NDTV, adding, "There is no need to identify whether it is Delta or Omicron."

Maharashtra will no longer prioritise the genome sequencing of samples on the advice of the state Covid Task Force. This as the state posted over 36,000 cases on Thursday - a massive 36.65 per cent increase from Wednesday.

Genome sequencing is failing to keep up as the country continues to produce a tidal wave of daily cases, the state reasoned.

It is more important to treat patients than identifying the variants of coronavirus, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope told NDTV. Maharashtra has reported 876 cases of the Omicron variant so far.

"Genome sequencing is not the most important thing right now and that is what the Task Force and bodies like the ICMR feel at the moment," he said.