May 9, 2021
Genome sequencing of the virus is an important step in identifying new variants that could be more infectious and deadly. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG) was set up last year and it brought together 10 labs in the country. But the group reportedly struggled to get funding initially. Virologist Dr Shahid Jameel says India started seriously looking at mutations fairly late, with sequencing efforts only "properly started" in mid-February 2021. India is sequencing just over 1% of all samples at the moment. "In comparison, the UK was sequencing at 5-6% at the peak of the pandemic. But you can't build such capacity overnight," he said.
Vikas Pandey, 'Coronavirus: How India descended into Covid-19 chaos', BBC
