3. Results
In the month of April 2021, a total of 3020 patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR, of which 648 patients were admitted in the hospital. Similarly, in the month of January 2022, of the 2396 patients were tested, among these patients 422 patients were admitted to the hospital. To enroll 100 patients in each period, telephonic interview was attempted in 212 patients in the month of April 2021, and in 261 patients in the month of January 2022. On genome sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus of the 100 patients in each period, both the Delta variant (Pango lineage: B.1.617.2) and the Omicron variant (Pango lineage: B.1.1.529 & BA.2) was found in 100% of the patients in the periods of April 2021 and January 2022 respectively.
The median age was 49.5 years (Range:18-90 years) in patients infected with the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 which was similar to the median age [47.5 years (range: 14-88 years)] of the patients infected in the month of January 2022. Majority of the patients admitted during the Delta wave were females (54%), whereas, males were more commonly admitted (57%) due to the infection by the Omicron variant. Amongst the females (43%) admitted during the period of January 2022, 11.6% were pregnant, in contrast from those admitted during the Delta variant (18.5%).