NEW DELHI: A new Covid-19 variant, XFG, which was first detected in Canada, has now surfaced in India, with over 160 active cases attributed to it, according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). This comes as India’s total active Covid cases near the 6,500 mark, as per data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
As of the latest update, India has 6,491 active Covid cases. Kerala remains the most affected state, reporting 1,957 active cases, including seven new infections in the past 24 hours.
Spread of the XFG Variant
INSACOG data shared with PTI reveals that 163 samples have tested positive for the XFG variant:
- Maharashtra: 89 cases
- Tamil Nadu: 16 cases
- Kerala: 15 cases
- Gujarat: 11 cases
- Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal: 6 cases each
What is the XFG Variant?
The XFG variant is a descendant of the Omicron subvariant and, according to a study published in The Lancet, was first identified in Canada. The study notes that XFG is derived from lineages LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, and features four key spike mutations:
- His445Arg
- Asn487Asp
- Gln493Glu
- Thr572Ile
These mutations are believed to enhance the virus’s ability to evade the immune system, which contributes to its rapid spread worldwide, the study added.
Covid-19 Situation Across India
After Kerala, the states with the highest active cases include:
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Gujarat
- Delhi
- West Bengal
- Uttar Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Haryana
Though the Health Ministry did not report any new deaths in the last 24 hours, a total of 65 Covid-related deaths have been recorded in 2025 so far. These fatalities were reported from:
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
- Tamil Nadu
- Punjab
- Maharashtra
- Madhya Pradesh
- Kerala
- Karnataka
- Gujarat
- Delhi
Authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, especially in states with rising case counts and presence of the new variant.