Govt sources deny detection of Covid-19 XE variant in Mumbai

Government sources on Wednesday denied the reports of detection of new Covid-19 variant, XE, in Mumbai. The sources said, present evidence does not suggest that it is XE variant. FastQ files of the sample which is being said to be 'XE' variant was analysed by Indian SARS-CoV2 Genomics Consortium, INSACOG genomic experts who inferred that genomic



constitution of this variant doesn't correlate with genomic picture of 'XE' variant.

The Ministry's rebuttal came shortly after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC claimed that the XE variant was detected in the city during the genome sequencing of samples.