A BMC health workers checks swab tests of construction workers in the city
MUMBAI: Dr Subhash Salunkhe, an advisor to the Maharashtra government, has termed the ongoing viral activity in Amravati and Akola districts “extremely unusual” and the rise in cases “exponential”. The only upside till now, said Dr Salunkhe, is the spread appears to be in “isolated small pockets”.
State government health officials said genomic sequencing of four patients from Amravati showed “unique mutations”, including E484Q, which is similar to a mutation (E484K) found in South African and Brazilian variants. Four samples from Yavatmal, too, showed unique mutations, including the N440K that first emerged in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.