Omicron variant XBB.3 feared to be dominant in India in a month: report

STORY: Omicron variant XBB.3 feared to be dominant in India in a month: report DATELINE: Oct. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of crowded market areas 3. various of people receiving COVID-19 testing 4. various of the hospital area 5. various of street views STORYLINE: The Omicron sub-variant XBB, particularly XBB.3, is likely to be the dominant strain of the COVID-19 virus in India within a month, reported The Times of India newspaper on Tuesday citing scientists. According to the report, there were 71 confirmed cases of XBB-driven COVID-19 infection in India at the beginning of this month, and the number jumped to 136 by Oct. 23. "On Monday the case count was 235," it added. It quoted a senior scientist with the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) as saying that the XBB.3 strain is currently leading the pack in India "with maximum cases." According to the report, the eastern state of West Bengal has reported the hig