Latest test samples sent for genome sequencing by Jharkhand have revealed two variants of concern _ Omicron and Delta, state health department sources have said.

Of the 87 samples sent to a lab in Bhubanseswar on January 2, results received on Saturday suggest that 14 of those samples pertained to infection caused by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and one Delta. The remaining samples were classified as "variants of concern"..

“Yes, 14 Omicron cases have been confirmed in the state,” said state additional chief secretary Arun Kumar Singh, who is currently recuperating from a bout of Covid.

Health experts in Jharkhand had in the first week of January claimed that the Omicron variant had spread rapidly taking into account the three to four digit spikes reported daily. In the fourth week of December, the health department had sent about three dozen samples for genome sequencing of which several were found to be of the Delta variant.

A source in Rims said, “Earlier, samples were sent for genome sequencing in November and mid-December. However, the latest samples were from late December onwards when cases started to peak in Jharkhand. Without Saturday's genome sequencing report, we knew that the current spurt was due to Omicron as the number of infections was increasing rapidly."