Center to states: Omicron 3 times more permeable than Delta, asks for containment measures
Highlight
- Omicron is 3 times more permeable than the delta version, the center said on Tuesday.
- States and Union Territories have been advised to take preventive measures.
- Earlier today, MoHFW released the list of states with the number of omicron cases in each.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday wrote to states and union territories informing them that the omicron version of COVID-19 is at least 3 times more transmittable than the delta version. The Center has asked states and union territories to take preventive measures.
“Omicron is at least 3 times more permeable than the delta. Hence, greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision making and strict and prompt containment action are needed at the local and district level”, the letter read.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a list of omicron cases in the respective states as well as across the country. The maximum number of cases of omicrons are found in the national capital and Maharashtra, with 54 cases each.
However, the case count in Maharashtra has now reached 65, with 11 new omicron cases being reported today. Of these, 8 were reported in Mumbai alone.
The Center also said that there is no evidence that existing vaccines do not work on the Omron version of the coronavirus. Though some of the mutations reported on the spike gene may reduce the efficacy of existing vaccines, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, all travelers arriving from countries deemed ‘at risk’ will have to undergo a COVID-19 test on arrival through RT-PCR, followed by mandatory home quarantine for 7 days .
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