First case of the new Covid-19 variant, which is a hybrid mutant strain, called XE has been detected in Mumbai, though the Union Health Ministry has not yet confirmed the gene sequencing results.  According to reports, XE variant is a hybrid strain of two Omicronsub-variants – BA.1 and BA.2. Out of the 376 samples tested, 230 patients from Mumbai were found to be infected with Omicron and one turned positive for the XE variant.