Bhubaneswar: In view of detection of new Covid strain-XBB. 1.5 in India, the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department of the Odisha government has advised the public to remain careful.
Taking to Twitter the H&FW department has further advised people to take necessary precautions and adhere to Covid-19 guidelines for the next 30 to 45 days.
The department has assured that the Odisha government is well equipped to handle the new Omicron variant XBB.1.5.
#Odisha Government is well equipped to handle the new #OmicronVariant XBB.1.5 and has advised the public to remain careful, take necessary precautions & adhere to #COVID19 guidelines for the next 30 to 45 days. #OdishaCares
— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) January 2, 2023
XBB is a hybrid of two different Omicron BA.2 subvariants. While scientists are still in the early stages of studying the XBB subvariant, they said that an even newer version of that subvariant had emerged, known as XBB.1.5. This strain is now to blame for over 40% of Covid-19 cases in the US and put the country on the edge.