New COVID variant: Can this rise in cases lead to a fresh wave? Dr Randeep Guleria answers

As India witnessed the highest number of Covid cases in over four months, former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday said the new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving the recent rise but emphasised there was no need for panic as long it does not cause severe illness and deaths. New variants will keep coming as the virus keeps on mutating over time and the XBB 1.16 is sort of a "new kid on the block", Guleria told PTI in an interview.