Covid-19 cases are showing signs of increase in Maharashtra after a long lull, while a new Omicron subvariant - EG.5.1 - has been detected in the state in the first instance of its presence in India.
Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, Maharashtra's coordinator for genome sequencing and a senior scientist with BJ Medical College, told TOI: "EG.5.1 was detected in Maharashtra in May.

As two months have passed since its detection and [there has been] no significant surge in Covid in June and July, this subvariant has not seemed to make an impact. XBB.1.16 and XBB.2.3 are still dominating in Maharashtra."