Omicron RF.5 variant identified in State; COVID tally rises to 19
Nearly three weeks after the first COVID-19 case was reported in Andhra Pradesh, the State government has said that genome sequencing has identified the Omicron
Nearly three weeks after the first COVID-19 case was reported in Andhra Pradesh, the State government has said that genome sequencing has identified the Omicron RF.5 sublineage in samples tested at the Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. Omicron RF.5 is a sublineage of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and is one of several Omicron sublineages identified worldwide, according to an official release issued on Saturday (July 18, 2026) night. The State Health Department had sent five samples collected from patients in YSR Kadapa district to the NIV for genome sequencing.
Following receipt of the report, Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the State with senior health officials. Director of Medical Education A. Vishnu Vardhan said a higher number of RF.5 cases had been reported in Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries. However, based on the scientific evidence available so far, the variant did not appear to be more dangerous than other Omicron sublineages, he said. Vishnu Vardhan said the symptoms associated with RF.5 were similar to those seen with other Omicron subvariants, including sore throat, cough, fever, headache, runny or blocked nose, fatigue and body aches.
Detailing the State’s preparedness, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said COVID-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh remained sporadic and hospitals were fully equipped to respond if required. Testing kits had been stocked and isolation wards established in all teaching hospitals, he said. The State has reported 19 COVID-19 cases between June 26 and July 19, including three cases reported on Sunday. One case each was reported from Guntur and Visakhapatnam districts. The patient in Visakhapatnam has been admitted to the King George Hospital and is stated to be stable.
The third case pertains to a patient who tested positive in a Rapid Antigen Test, while the RT-PCR result is awaited. In addition, a toddler from SPSR Nellore district tested positive for COVID-19 at a hospital in Puducherry.
The BriefWire